Carroll, who was born in West Bromwich, graduated from the University of Birmingham in 1926 with a BA in French with Honours. During her studies she appeared in some productions for the University’s Dramatic Society, before later going on to star in films in the UK and in Hollywood during the 1930s and 1940s.

In 1935 Carroll attracted the attention of Alfred Hitchcock and starred as one of the director’s earliest prototypical cool, glib, intelligent blondes in The 39 Steps. The success of the film made Hitchcock a star in Britain and the US, and Carroll’s performance established the template for the quintessential English ‘Hitchcock blonde’. Poised for international stardom, Carroll was the first British actress to be offered a major American film contract with Paramount Pictures.

After her only sister Marguerite was killed during the Blitz in World War II, Carroll made a shift from acting to working in field hospitals as a Red Cross nurse and helped orphans of the war and survivors of concentration camps. As a result of this work she proposed a World Children’s Day to UNICEF, which has since been celebrated globally on 20th November each year.

Around 50 people attended the unveiling of the blue plaque at the newly equipped screening room called The Carroll at the University of Birmingham yesterday, followed by a talk on the life and importance of Madeleine Carroll and a commemorative screening of The 39 Steps.