Rosina Lawrence had an incredibly brilliant but very brief artistic career. She was a multi-talented performer with an exceptional voice, remarkable dance skills, and a natural gift for acting. She showcased her talents as both a singer and a dancer primarily through her work in film. However, despite her immense talent and great potential, Rosina Lawrence chose to dedicate her life entirely to her family and household. More details at ottawa-trend.com.
Dance in the Life of Rosina Lawrence
Rosina Lawrence was born in 1912 in the suburbs of Ottawa, spending her early years in Canada’s capital. When she was 10 years old, her family was forced to leave Ottawa. They lived in Boston for three years before moving to California, where Rosina attended school.
During her childhood, an unfortunate accident changed the course of her life—she fell on a school playground, which resulted in partial paralysis on the left side of her body. Doctors recommended dance as therapy, and her parents enrolled her in lessons. Over time, dance became more than just therapy—it became her passion and profession.
Singing in the Life of Rosina Lawrence
While dance entered Rosina Lawrence’s life due to her injury, singing became part of her career through film.
She had a beautiful voice from childhood but did not immediately use it to advance her career. Living in Los Angeles, she was initially invited to work on a film set—not as a singer but as a dance double for actress Sally Eilers in a tap-dancing scene.
This opportunity opened doors for her, and soon, Rosina Lawrence began attracting attention. She was elegant, slender, and had striking blonde hair and a captivating smile, but her greatest asset was her untapped talent. Over the next few years, she received numerous offers for dance roles as a stand-in. Her film debut came in 1924, when she appeared in the historical drama The Chosen Lady.
Following this, she caught the attention of 20th Century Studios, which offered her a contract. Her first official film under this agreement was Ten Dollars Raise. It was through acting that she also began to sing.
One of the most famous films in which she showcased her vocal talent was the 1937 film Way Out West. In addition to her solo performance, she sang soprano alongside Stan Laurel in Trail of the Lonesome Pine. This song became one of the most popular in North America during the first half of the 20th century.
A Short but Brilliant Career
Audiences were captivated by Rosina Lawrence’s voice, acting, and dancing. However, despite her growing success, she showed little interest in pursuing a long-term career in entertainment. She constantly received offers for film roles, performances, and endorsements, but she turned down most of them.
At that time, in the first half of the 20th century, industry professionals were not as persistent when a performer declined offers. As a result, after multiple rejections, Rosina Lawrence quietly disappeared from the spotlight.
Her final film appearance was in Star Fell on the Village (1939), where she once again displayed her exceptional voice and acting talent.
Rosina Lawrence’s lack of interest in continuing her artistic career was directly linked to her personal life. She was in a relationship with Juvenal Marchisio, an American judge, and they married in 1939. After their wedding, she permanently left her career, choosing a life of family and homemaking.
The life of this beautiful and talented singer, actress, and dancer from Ottawa came to an end at age 84. Rosina Lawrence passed away in 1997 in New York City after battling cancer.
