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Hope Emerson (October 29, 1897 – April 25, 1960) was an American actress. Emerson was born in Hawarden, Iowa. Following her graduation from West High School in Des Moines in 1916, she moved to New York City, where she performed in vaudeville. Emerson made her Broadway debut in Lysistrata in 1930. She made her film debut in Smiling Faces (1932) but then returned to theater work. In the 1940s, Emerson was well known as the voice of Elsie the Cow in Borden Milk commercials on radio. Standing 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m), Emerson's most memorable roles were as a circus strongwoman in Adam's Rib who... MORE

Hope Emerson (October 29, 1897 – April 25, 1960) was an American actress. Emerson was born in Hawarden, Iowa. Following her graduation from West High School in Des Moines in 1916, she moved to New York City, where she performed in vaudeville. Emerson made her Broadway debut in Lysistrata in 1930. She made her film debut in Smiling Faces (1932) but then returned to theater work. In the 1940s, Emerson was well known as the voice of Elsie the Cow in Borden Milk commercials on radio. Standing 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m), Emerson's most memorable roles were as a circus strongwoman in Adam's Rib who lifts Spencer Tracy up in the air (1949), a larcenous conspirator in the noirish Cry of the City (1948), and a mail-order bride in Westward the Women (1952). Her most famous role, as sadistic prison matron Evelyn Harper, in Caged (1950) garnered her an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress. On television, Emerson guest starred on the series finale ("The Housekeeper") of the sitcom, It's a Great Life, playing a bossy housekeeper who temporarily takes charge while Amy Morgan, played by Frances Bavier, goes on vacation. She also had a regular role in Peter Gunn (1958, for which she LESS