 Elizabeth was a pretty new starlet in MGM's roster when Clark first met her on the set of Men in White in 1933. Then only 25, she had just come from her home country of England and had just been married. She didn't seem to fit the mold of his "type". Far from the sassy blondes he was later known to be fond of, Elizabeth was a pretty, unassuming, quiet brunette. Myrna Loy recalled that he took an instant liking to Elizabeth on the first day of production. She said he would greet Elizabeth every morning with coffee and cakes and that they would spend all their time between takes chatting.  The platonic part of their relationship didn't last for long, despite the fact that both were married. Elizabeth's husband, Wilfred O'Bryen, was back in London and Ria was oblivious as usual. After production on Men in White was over, Clark pushed MGM to sign her to a long term contract. Their love affair continued off and on for about two years. They were careful not to be photographed together but were known as one of Hollywood's worst kept secrets. She was not the only one on Clark's dance card either, as he dated many others in those two years. She was one of the ones that fell to the wayside after Clark began seeing that sassy blonde Carole Lombard in 1936. Elizabeth returned to England in 1938, after attempting to sue MGM over them reneging on a promise to cast her in the film The Citadel (Rosalind Russell was cast instead). Clark and Elizabeth did not see each other for many years, as after that she remained in England, doing films and theater. But in 1943, while Clark was in the Army, he was stationed in London. They soon met up and had a little fling. By then, Elizabeth was still married and had two children. That is supposedly the last time they saw each other. Elizabeth was a very successful actress in her home country, working steadily through the 1950's. She died in 1990 at age 82.  |
