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Maureen O'Hara

Also known as Marueen OHara, Maureen FitzSimons

Born
Aug 17, 1920
height
5'8" (or 172 cm)
body type
Average

Career

Active 1938 – 2000

Biography

About Maureen O'Hara

Edited by the community

Maureen O'Hara was an Irish-American actress and singer known for playing fiercely passionate but sensible heroines, often in westerns and adventure films. Born Maureen FitzSimons in Ranelagh, County Dublin, Ireland, she trained with the Rathmines Theatre Company from the age of 10 and at the Abbey Theatre from the age of 14. Charles Laughton saw potential in her and arranged for her to co-star with him in Alfred Hitchcock's Jamaica Inn in 1939. She moved to Hollywood the same year for The Hunchback of Notre Dame and was given a contract by RKO Pictures. She acquired the nickname "The Queen of Technicolor" thanks to her striking red hair and green eyes.

Her career spanned from 1938 to 2000, with many memorable films. Early hits included How Green Was My Valley (1941), her first collaboration with John Ford, The Black Swan (1942), The Spanish Main (1945), Sinbad the Sailor (1947), and the Christmas classic Miracle on 34th Street (1947). She made her first film with John Wayne in Rio Grande (1950), followed by The Quiet Man (1952), her best-known film, and The Wings of Eagles (1957). Her chemistry with Wayne was so strong that many assumed they were married. In the 1960s, she turned to more motherly roles, including The Parent Trap (1961) and The Rare Breed (1966). She retired in 1971 after Big Jake, but returned for Only the Lonely (1991).

O'Hara was married three times and had one daughter, Bronwyn. In the late 1970s, she helped run her third husband's flying business in St. Croix and edited a magazine. She later sold those ventures to spend more time in Glengariff, Ireland. Her autobiography, 'Tis Herself, was published in 2004 and became a New York Times Bestseller. In November 2014, she received an Honorary Academy Award. She passed away in 2015 at age 95, leaving a legacy as one of Hollywood's Golden Age stars.

Record

Profile details

Personal

Died
Saturday 24th of October 2015 (age 95)
Years Active
1938-2000 (started around 18 years old; 62 years active)
Birthplace
Ranelagh, County Dublin, Ireland
Ethnicity
Caucasian

Body

Hair Color
Red
Eye Color
Green
Weight
120 lbs (or 54 kg)
Measurements
37–25–36 (B–W–H) · WHR 0.69
Bra/Cup Size
34C show conversions - UK: 34C, EU: 75C, AU: 12C, JP: 75C

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Frequently asked

How did Maureen O'Hara get her start in Hollywood?

She was given a screen test that was deemed unsatisfactory, but Charles Laughton saw potential and arranged for her to co-star with him in Jamaica Inn (1939). She then moved to Hollywood that same year for The Hunchback of Notre Dame.

What was the nature of her relationship with John Wayne?

They worked together frequently and had strong on-screen chemistry, leading many to assume they were married or in a relationship, but they were just friends.

Why was she called "The Queen of Technicolor"?

Her red hair and green eyes photographed exceptionally well in Technicolor, earning her that nickname.

What did she do after her acting career slowed down?

In the late 1970s, she helped run her third husband's flying business in St. Croix and edited a magazine, but later sold them to spend more time in Ireland.

What awards and recognition did she receive?

In November 2014, she was presented with an Honorary Academy Award for her contributions to cinema.

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