In addition to her performances on stage and screen, Lawson was known for her romantic affairs, including with tennis player Fred Perry and her future husband, the married son of the Dame of Sark.

[2][3] She grew up in a humble terraced house on 58 Pease Street on the Freeholders' Estate in Darlington and attended Dodmire School.

[3] Lawson incorporated into her show the song Varsity Drag from the musical Good News, which at the time was being performed by American Zelma O'Neal at the Carlton Theatre in the West End.

[13] Between films she continued her stage career, including a starring role in Life Begins at Oxford Circus at the London Palladium.

In 1933, her engagement to Maurice Henry van Raalte, heir to a cigar importing fortune, ended tragically with her fiancé's sudden death.

[3][16] But only a few months later in August 1934 Lawson caused a national sensation when it was announced that she was engaged to Fred Perry, the world's premier tennis player and winner of numerous Grand Slam tournaments.

The couple first met when Perry visited the London studies of the film Falling in Love, in which Lawson played the role of Ann Brent.

[3] Perry later escorted Lawson to an exhibition match at Highbury Fields and proposed marriage before he departed to New York City to defend his US Open title.

[3] Lawson reportedly stated that she broke off the engagement because publicity killed their romance, she had tired of the ridiculous rumours that had circulated in the media and she was opposed to Perry's plans to live permanently in America.

[1] When the Second World War broke out Sark was occupied by the German military and Beaumont joined the Royal Air Force, reaching the rank of flight lieutenant.

[3] In May 1941, Flt Lt Beaumont received a week's leave and he, Lawson, friends and family travelled to Liverpool,[3] where according to Hathaway they stayed at a hotel at 126 Smithdown Road in the Sefton Park district.

[3] The home was destroyed, killing the couple (Mary dying afterwards in Smithdown Road Hospital), while all those who sought safety in the shelter survived.