GLASGOW should recognise Deborah Kerr as one of its own.

 

That was the call yesterday from Paul Greenwood, the Evening Times' film critic, after a city academic found that her birth certificate confirmed her birthplace as Glasgow - not Helensburgh as has been widely assumed for decades.

The star was born Deborah Jane Trimmer in a private nursing home in the city on September 30, 1921.

Her parents, Arthur and Kathleen, were living in Helensburgh at the time.

Deborah has long been linked with the coastal resort - and when she died, aged 86. in 2007, many obituaries stated that she was born there.

Her many film roles included From Here to Eternity, The King and I and Black Narcissus.

She was recognised as one of the last great beauties of Hollywood's golden age and was nominated for the best actress Oscar six times before being given an honorary award by the academy in 1994.

Her birth certificate discounts once and for all that she was born in Helensburgh.

Paul, one of Scotland's top film writers, said: "It's genuinely interesting that Deborah was born in Glasgow and not in the town where people assume she was born.

"It would be fitting if the city could recognise Deborah in some way.

"Not too many world-class film stars have come from the city and I think it would be appropriate if we could mark this in an appropriate way."

News of the birth certificate came from Jim McIvor, a lecturer at Glasgow Clyde College.

He said: "I was browsing the web and Deborah's name came up and there was a reference to her being born in Glasgow.

"I thought that was unusual because, like everybody else, I had heard that she had been born in Helensburgh.

"I contacted the Births, Deaths and Marriages office and requested a copy of her birth certificate.

"I wouldn't describe myself as a huge fan of her's, but I thought it would just be nice to get recognition of the fact that she was born in Glasgow."

The place of birth was given as 7 St James Terrace. Deborah was born at 7.40 in the morning.

"Her parents seem to have come to Glasgow for the birth," added Jim. "According to the records, the place was a private nursing home.

"They lived as a family in Helensburgh for a few years then moved back down to England."

Deborah's dad, Arthur, is listed on the birth certificate as a civil engineer. He had married Kathleen Smale at a ceremony in Lydney, Gloucestershire, just over two years earlier, in August 1919.

An article on the Helensburgh Heritage Trust website says the couple had moved to Helensburgh because of Mr Trimmer's peacetime work as a civil engineer.

They lived for three years with his parents in West King Street.

Deborah's dad, who was known as Jack, had seen active service during the Great War at Gallipoli and on the Somme.

According to the article, St James Terrace was later re-named Ruskin Terrace.

Deborah originally trained as a ballet dancer at Sadler 's Wells before pursuing a career in acting.

She made several British films before being signed by MGM in 1947.

Her roll in the surf with Burt Lancaster in From Here to Eternity remains one of Hollywood's most enduring images.

And her leading men included Yul Brynner, Stewart Granger, Robert Mitchum and Spencer Tracy.

She was made a CBE in 1997.

Deborah died in Suffolk in October 2007 after suffering from Parkinson's disease for several years.

She had lived in Switzerland but moved to England to be near her family when her illness worsened.

When news of her death broke, her agent, Anne Hutton, described her as an actress of "great elegance and grace". She said: "She was one of the very best performers who maintained her composure at all times.

"She was one of the most professional people I ever worked with and was an example to others in her profession."