Maureen O'Hara
Maureen FitzSimons, born 17 August 1920, died 24 October 2015) was an Irish actress from Ireland. She was a popular actress in Hollywood during the 1940s until the 1960s. A natural redhead, she was well-known for her role as sensual and passionate heroines. She frequently appeared in Westerns or in adventure films. Her talent for stardom was first discovered by the actor Charles Laughton, who brought her to Hollywood as well as at numerous times, she worked alongside director John Ford and longtime friend John Wayne. O'Hara was raised in Dublin, Ireland by a Catholic family. She wanted to be an actor from a young age. From the age 10 she trained at the Rathmines Theatre Company and the Abbey Theatre. After passing a screen test, she was not accepted. But Charles Laughton recognized her potential and offered her role in Alfred Hitchcock's Jamaica Inn in 1939. RKO Pictures offered her a contract. She was also transferred to Hollywood the same year to play alongside him in The Hunchback of Notre Dame. From then, she proceeded to enjoy a lengthy and highly successful career, and was given the title "the Queen of Technicolor". In films like How Green Was My Valley (1941) that was her first collaboration The Black Swan with Tyrone Power (1942), The Spanish Main with Sinbad the Sailor (1947) as well as the classic Christmas film Miracle on 34th Street (1947) along with John Payne (and Natalie Wood) and Comanche Territory (1950), she appeared. O'Hara was first seen in Rio Grande (1950), with John Wayne (the actor with whom she most closely associates). The Quiet Man (1952), The Wings of Eagles (57) and McLintock followed. (1963) and Big Jake (1971). Wayne was so strong in her chemistry with O'Hara that many thought they were in a relationship. O'Hara began to assume more motherly roles in the 1960s as she got older. She was in films such as The Deadly Companions (1961), The Parent Trap (611) and The Rare Breed (1966). In 1971, she retired from the film industry. But, she returned 20 years later to star with John Candy in Only the Lonely (1991).




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