Maureen O'Hara
Maureen O'Hara was born Maureen Fitzsimons near Dublin, Ireland, on August 17, 1920. Another actress who was interested in show business at an early age, Maureen began to perform on the stage as well as local radio. She worked hard at her craft in order to be the best possible. By the time she was 14 years old, Maureen was winning awards in drama contests. The hard work eventually paid off. In 1938, at the age of 18, Maureen got a bit part as a secretary in the film KICKING THE MOON AROUND. Later that year she appeared as Eileen O'Shea in MY IRISH MOLLY. After appearing in JAMAICA INN in 1939, Maureen packed her bags and moved to Los Angeles and the film colony of Hollywood to try her luck there. Her first film in the US was THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME with Charles Laughton. Maureen's next two films, A BILL OF DIVORCEMENT and DANCE, GIRL, DANCE, both in 1940, met with lukewarm reviews with the critics and fans for the film, not Maureen. She was superb in the two films. In 1941, she played Angharad in HOW GREEN WAS MY VALLEY. In 1947, Maureen appeared in two big hits, SINBAD THE SAILOR and MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET.
Maureen with John Wayne in "The Quiet Man".
The latter is now considered a Christmas classic, due to her role and that of a newcomer, Natalie Wood.
1952 saw Maureen play Mary Kate Danaher in John Ford's hit THE QUIET MAN. This film garnered Ford an Oscar for Best Director, but it was the performance by Maureen, that many said, cinched it for him. Perhaps she should have won one as well. Maureen took a hiatus from films after 1957's THE WINGS OF EAGLES, returning in 1960 in OUR MAN IN HAVANA. In 1961, she played Maggie McKendrick in the ever popular PARENT TRAP. Two years later she starred in the tearjerker, SPENCER'S MOUNTAIN. Maureen was beginning to make films at a lesser rate. She had been busy since her debut in 1938 and wanted a break. After THE BIG JAKE in 1971, Maureen wasn't seen on the silver screen for 18 years, although she appeared in one made for television movie. In 1991 she returned to film ONLY THE LONELY. Her last film to date was THE LAST DANCE in 2000.
Biography Courtesy: Denny Jackson.
Maureen with Natalie Wood.
Crystal's Favorite Maureen O'Hara Films:
How Green Was My Valley (1941) - Angharad Morgan
Miracle on 34th Street (1947) - Doris Walker
The Quiet Man (1952) - Mary Kate Danaher
The Parent Trap (1961) - Maggie McKendrick
McLintock! (1963) - Katherine Gilhooley McLintock
Only the Lonely (1991) - Rose Muldoon
Click on Maureen to go back.
