Historic England has today unveiled a national blue plaque to honour the inspirational actor Cary Grant, a working-class boy from Bristol who became one of the brightest movie stars Hollywood has ever known.  

Born Archie Leach in Horfield in 1904, he escaped his unhappy poverty-stricken childhood by running away to join an acrobatic troupe aged 14, travelling to America and – through immense effort and determination – reinventing himself as Cary Grant, the epitome of style who forged a film career spanning four decades.

With his signature tan, suave and sophisticated style, he was the consummate leading man who came to symbolise the authentic American hero. But despite his fame, Grant never forgot his roots in Bristol. He visited regularly, returning to see his mother Elsie, and happily posed for publicity photos in his native city.

He was constantly trying to make sense of how he had transformed himself from Archie Leach into Cary Grant.

The new blue plaque was unveiled at his early childhood home 50 Berkeley Road, Bishopston, where he lived with his parents during the earlier, happier time in his childhood.

The unveiling was led by Creative Industries, Arts and Tourism Minister Sir Chris Bryant MP, alongside Historic England Chief Executive Duncan Wilson and Dr Charlotte Crofts, Director of the Cary Comes Home Film Festival (pictured above).

The inscription on the plaque reads: CARY GRANT / (Archie Leach) /1904–1986 / Actor and Film Star / lived here / as a child.

The national blue plaque scheme, run by Historic England on behalf of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) tells the stories of inspirational people – from all walks of life – who have made a significant contribution to human welfare or happiness, throughout history.

Some plaques commemorate famous people – like Cary Grant or music icon George Harrison – while others honour those that aren’t widely known but should be, like Daphne Steele, the first Black matron in the NHS.

Image: Cary Grant’s blue plaque, credit Historic England

Barbara Jaynes, Cary Grant’s widow, said: “I’d like to express my heartfelt gratitude and immense pride regarding the decision to install a national Blue Plaque at Cary’s childhood home at 50 Berkeley Road. Cary often spoke fondly of his childhood in Bristol, where his journey began. He cherished the memories of his early years, and I can only imagine the joy he would have felt knowing that his roots would be commemorated in such a meaningful way.

“Cary’s charisma, talent, and charm captivated audiences worldwide, yet he always remained grounded and proud of his origins. He would have been delighted to see his childhood home recognized, serving as an inspiration for future generations to ‘dream big’ and pursue their passions.

“This national Blue Plaque is a beautiful tribute to his humble beginnings and the extraordinary path he forged in Hollywood and beyond.”

Image: Cary Grant at Clifton Suspension Bridge, credit Bristol Live/BPM Media

Duncan Wilson, Chief Executive, Historic England said: “We are delighted to unveil a plaque to film star Cary Grant, at his early childhood home in Bristol. His iconic performances are part of film history but before his meteoric rise to fame in Hollywood, he had humble origins. Through this blue plaque we can physically memorialise and celebrate this remarkable actor’s connection to Bristol, a UNESCO city of film, and we hope it inspires generations to follow their dreams too.”

Heritage Minister Sir Chris Bryant MP said: “With impeccable style, charisma and talent as vast as the Atlantic, Cary Grant embodied the silver screen star persona better than many of his American peers. As he himself said, ‘Everyone wants to be Cary Grant. Even I want to be Cary Grant.’

“Although the bright lights of Hollywood beckoned, his spirit and determination to succeed were a direct product of his youth in his hometown of Bristol.

“As one of the city’s most admired sons, this blue plaque will allow Bristolians to celebrate his legacy while serving as a reminder to aspiring actors and artists to follow their dreams whatever their circumstances.”

Cary Grant was born Archibald Alec Leach on 18 January 1904 in Horfield, a suburb to the north of Bristol.

Known as ‘Archie’, he was the second son of Elias Leach, a clothes presser, and Elsie Maria. His elder brother, John William Elias Leach (1899–1900), had died before Archie was born when only 11 months old, a fact which Grant discovered much later in life.

The family moved to 50 Berkeley Road in 1906 when Archie was four and lived there until 1909 or 1910.

Image: Cary Grant on Berkeley Road in Bristol, credit Bristol Live/BPM Media 

While living here, Archie became a pupil at nearby Bishop Road Primary School, started to take piano lessons, both of which were encouraged by his mother, and it’s likely that he paid his first visit to the cinema. His mother’s influence on instilling good manners and politeness proved lasting and in turn shaped his screen persona.

Archie lived at six different addresses in Bristol, probably due to precarious family finances which caused the family to move every few years, but he remembered his time at this house as positive.

He recalled his years at 50 Berkeley Road were “the happiest days for the three of us” (Cary Grant, ‘Archie Leach’, Ladies’ Home Journal, 1963).

He had fond memories of the long garden: “in one section there was a large patch of grass surrounding a fine old apple tree near which my father lovingly sank strong, high, wooden supports for a swing. I took pride in the fact of that swing, the possession of it, but lacked the daring and abandon of a free swinger” (ibid.).

He also wrote how his family “often ate under the shade of our apple tree, particularly on summer Sundays, on a trestle table set up for the occasion, while my father jumped up every moment or so to inspect the progress of each item in his vegetable garden” (ibid.).

His childhood took a turn for the worse a few years later when, aged 11, he returned home from school one day to find his mother missing and thought that she was away on holiday, only to be told a few weeks’ later that she had died.

Although this proved not to be true – and he was reunited with his mother nearly 20 years later in 1934 – he was traumatised by the experience.

Elsie Leach had, in fact, been admitted to the Bristol Lunatic Asylum in Fishponds; she was moved to a different mental hospital shortly afterwards but remained committed for ‘mania’ until 1936.

Cary Grant’s life is worthy of a Hollywood storyline – the “rags to riches” tale of Archie Leach, a boy from the suburbs of Bristol who ran away from home and joined an acrobatic troupe, travelled to America and re-invented himself as one of Hollywood’s biggest stars.

During his long career, Cary Grant was idolised – his matinee idol looks worked alongside his carefully honed acting skills. He was reported to have had a perfectionist approach to filmmaking, working endlessly on improving the script and developing improvisations with his fellow actors, and was meticulous about camera angles and lighting.

Grant’s image is one of the most reproduced of any in cinema’s history and he performed in some of Hollywood’s most memorable movie scenes – from carrying a glass of milk upstairs to the fearful Joan Fontaine in Suspicion, to attempting to capture a leopard in Bringing up Baby or being chased by a sinister crop-dusting biplane in North by Northwest.

A box-office favourite, Grant starred alongside Hollywood’s leading ladies from the 1930s to the 1960s, including: Katharine Hepburn (Bringing Up Baby 1938), Ingrid Bergman (Notorious 1946), Grace Kelly (To Catch A Thief, 1955), Deborah Kerr (An Affair To Remember, 1957) Sophia Loren (The Pride and The Passion, 1957), Eva Marie Saint (North by Northwest, 1959),  Doris Day (That Touch of Mink, 1962) and Audrey Hepburn (Charade, 1963).

His hit films established him as a master of screwball comedy, a romantic lead and a box-office favourite who could command top billing and some of the highest fees in Hollywood. However, Grant was always keen to extend his range and as his career developed, he also took on more morally ambivalent roles such as Johnnie Aysgarth, the irresponsible playboy, in Suspicion (1941).

In 1970, following decades of working in lead roles in major films of the day, Grant was honoured by the United States’ Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (the organisation behind ‘the Oscars’) with a lifetime achievement award ‘for his unique mastery of the art of screen acting.’

Cary Grant never forgot his connection to Bristol and his home city has shown its affection and pride for its famous son over many years.

Image: Cary Grant on College Green in Bristol, credit Bristol Live/BPM Media

In 2014 a new biennial festival – Cary Comes Home – was set up to celebrate his achievements with a season of film screenings, talks, walking tours and much more.

Such is Grant’s fame that his celebrated publicity photo in front of the Clifton Suspension Bridge continues to be recreated for selfies by the numerous visitors who flock to the city.

Dr Charlotte Crofts from Bristol’s biennial Cary Comes Home Film Festival (Friday 29 November to Sunday 1 December 2024) said: “I am thrilled that Bristol, a UNESCO City of Film, has been honoured with a national plaque to one of its brightest stars, Cary Grant. Born here in 1904, Grant had a difficult childhood, but Berkeley Road was one of his happier homes. This recognition not only celebrates his incredible legacy as a film actor – whose good looks, debonair style, and flair for romantic comedy made him one of Hollywood’s most popular and enduring stars – but also highlights the ongoing work of the Cary Comes Home Festival in raising awareness of his Bristol roots. It’s wonderful to see Bristol firmly on the map as a city of cultural and historical significance.”

Natalie Moore, Bristol UNESCO City of Film Manager, said: “Cary Grant is one of Bristol’s original and most iconic screen exports. His ambition drove him from poverty in Horfield all the way to Hollywood stardom, yet he never forgot the home city where he first discovered the bright lights of cinema and theatre. Today, as an internationally recognised UNESCO City of Film that harnesses film to drive cultural, economic and social development, Archie Leach is an inspiring, enduring symbol of how creativity, talent and resilience can lead to success, whatever your background. We are extremely proud to see his Bristol beginnings recognised with this national Blue Plaque.”

Councillor Ani Stafford-Townsend, ward member for Central Ward at Bristol City Council, said: ‘It is great to see Cary Grant being honoured with a national blue plaque in the city. As someone who has their own involvement in Bristol’s creative industry, it is undeniable how his achievements have left their mark across the industry in Bristol. It is so important that we continue to celebrate Bristolians for their accomplishments, and this way, Cary Grant becomes an even bigger part of Bristol’s legacy. I hope this plaque serves a reminder of the brilliance that comes from our city and inspires future generations to pursue their creative passions.’

For more information, visit https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/national-blue-plaque-scheme.

Cary Comes Home takes place in Bristol from 29th November – 1st December 2024. Find out more and buy tickets at https://www.carycomeshome.co.uk.