Lotus Thompson

Biography

Lotus May Thompson was born on August 26, 1904 in Charters Towers, Australia. When she was a child she started performing on the Sidney stage. At the age of fifteen she entered a beauty contest and was chosen "the most beautiful girl in Australia". Lotus made her film debut in the 1921 drama Know Thy Child. After making a few more films in Australia she moved to Hollywood in 1924. The beautiful blonde started working as an extra at Hal Roach studios. She spent most of her time posing for sexy photos and became known for having the best legs in Hollywood. On February 1, 1925 she poured acid on her legs in an attempt to disfigure herself. Lotus claimed she did it to be taken more seriously as an actress. The story about her disfigured legs made headlines all over the country. She told reporters "It's sickening. I wish I never had any legs. I couldn't stand it any more so I decided to mar them so no one would want to look at them any more." Eventually she admitted that it had all been a publicity stunt. In 1926 she was signed by Paramount and costarred with Clara Bow in Rough House Rosie. Lotus had supporting roles in Flashing Fangs, A One Man Game, and The Port Of Missing Girls. She married Edward Churchill in 1929. That year she made ten movies including the westerns The Thrill Hunter and The Lone Rider. Then she starred in the ten part serial Terry Of The Times. Edward divorced her in 1936 claiming that she had deserted him. Lotus married Stanley Robinson, a real estate salesman, in 1937. By this time was earning just $10 a day playing bit parts. Her final role was in the 1949 film The Red Danube. She and her husband lived on in Burbank. They never had children. Sadly on May 19. 1963 she died from heart disease and respiratory failure. Lotus was fifty-eight years old. She was cremated and buried at the Chapel Of The Pines in Los Angeles, California.