Sybil Thorndike(1882-1976)

In 1940, during WWII, her son John, who was in the military, was reported missing and presumed dead. She and her husband had no further news about him for weeks until they found out he had been captured and was still alive. After the war ended in 1945, he was home within a few weeks.

It's only people who are hysterical who can play hysterical parts.