Jessica Harcourt

Jessica Harcourt (1905–1988) was an Australian mannequin, author and actress, best known for playing a leading role in For the Term of His Natural Life (1927).

[1][2] As a young woman working as a programme seller at Her Majesty's Theatre, Sydney, she first caught the eye of Sir John Longstaff,[3] and then her beauty attracted the attention of George Highland,[4] a producer of J. C. Williamson Ltd. She became a chorus girl, appearing in Whirled into Happiness in 1924.

[5] Longstaff described her as “more English than Australian, her lovely coloring and features, combined with character and high intelligence, give her very high rank among the many beautiful women I have seen.”[6] Harcourt recognised the opportunity of advancing her career and undertook to do intensive elocution lessons, saying "I don't care how hard I have to work so long as I amount to something in the end.

Filming commenced in 1926 and locations included Port Arthur and Launceston, Tasmania and Master Pictures' studio in Bondi, NSW.

[14] Filming was to take six weeks and Harcourt made it back to Australia in time for the premiere of her first movie For the Term of His Natural Life.

A miniature portrait of Harcourt, painted in watercolour on ivory by Melbourne miniaturist Ada Whiting, was selected as a finalist in the 1925 Archibald Prize.

[20] She produced a number of fashion shows,[2] wrote newspaper articles,[21] and had a short story entitled "The Mystery Submarine" published in The Home magazine.