Priscilla Lawson: Movies & Filmography

Priscilla Lawson, born Priscilla Jones Shortridge on March 8, 1914, in Indianapolis, Indiana, was an American actress whose brief but memorable career in Hollywood left an indelible mark on science fiction cinema history. The daughter of Elmer Shortridge, a railroad yard foreman and machinist, and his wife Elizabeth, Lawson entered the entertainment industry through the world of professional modeling, achieving early recognition when she was crowned Miss Miami Beach in 1935. This accolade led to employment as an Earl Carroll chorus girl at the Miami Casino, where her striking presence caught the attention of talent scouts from Universal Studios. Signing with the studio marked the beginning of her cinematic journey, initially landing her in various small roles that showcased her photogenic qualities and screen presence, setting the stage for her eventual breakthrough performance.

Lawson achieved cult figure status and enduring fame when she was cast as Princess Aura in the iconic 1936 serial Flash Gordon, portraying the voluptuous and alluring daughter of the villainous Ming the Merciless. Her character's intense rivalry with Dale Arden for the affections of the heroic Flash Gordon became a central dramatic element of the serial, with Lawson's physical attributes reportedly significant enough to incur the wrath of censors, as co-star Jean Rogers later revealed that retakes were ordered requiring Lawson to wear slightly less revealing costumes. Despite this controversy contributing to her notoriety, her screen career proved relatively brief, concluding in 1941 following her second marriage to actor Alan Curtis in 1937, which ended in divorce by 1940. Following her divorce, Lawson enlisted in the Women's Army Corps during World War II, though rumors regarding a leg amputation during service were vehemently denied by Rogers and dismissed by biographical records. In her later years, she transitioned away from acting to manage a stationery shop in Los Angeles and worked as a finisher for pottery companies. Tragically, she died on August 27, 1958, at the age of 44 in Monrovia, California, from cirrhosis and upper gastrointestinal bleeding caused by a duodenal ulcer, and was interred at Live Oak Memorial Park.