Another celebrity passing has us in tears in the past few days. After Yogi Berra, it was comedian Marty Ingels. Then, on October 24th, legendary actress Maureen O'Hara died at the age of 95.
Born in 1920, the Irish actress went on to make her debut in The Hunchback of Notre Dame in 1939. Over the course of her career, she had many memorable roles. She starred opposite John Wayne up to five times; her favorite role alongside him was in The Quiet Man.
Known as "The Queen Of Technicolor" for her flaming red hair, the talented actress made waves in still-popular movies Miracle On 34th Street in 1947 and The Parent Trap in 1961. Her career spanned over an astonishing 40 years!
There is not one Thanksgiving I remember when Miracle On 34th Street wasn't on television, and I'm almost certain many others can say the same. This is how she became a household name and well-known across generations.
Along with her hair, the actress was very well known for her expressive face and her big eyes. She was cast in her first film after actor Charles Laughton saw her "failed" screen test in London.
At first, she didn't want anything to do with the movies after the screen test. But we know that well after that incident, her career soared.
In her autobiography, she had this to say about her iconic look:
"When I was young, I didn't think I was at all pretty. I was told only that I had a sulky, pouty face. Ironically, after I got to Hollywood, I resented that I didn't get a crack at a more dramatic role because I photographed so beautifully. More than anything, though, it was the way I used my eyes that caused audiences to look deep inside my characters to see what else was there."
You can watch an iconic moment from her favorite movie The Quiet Man here!
If you have fond memories of watching Maureen O'Hara's movies at home, please SHARE!
