When I think of Irish actresses, the first and foremost one that comes to mind is the incomparable Maureen O'Hara. Her red hair, fiery temper and Irish lilt to her voice captivated audiences in such films as The Quiet Man, McLintock, Miracle on 34th Street, and later in life Only the Lonely.
I will always remember her character Mary Kate Danaher giving John Wayne a run for his money in The Quiet Man as he literally chases and then drags her through the green fields of Ireland. It isn't officially St. Paddy's Day in my household until we enjoy a cup of tea (pronounced tay) while watching this iconic film.
She was born Maureen Fitzsimons on August 17, 1920 in the Dublin suburb of Ranelagh, the second of six children—a small family by Irish standards. As a child she trained in drama, music and dance, and one of her early loves was singing. She fell into acting when actor Charles Laughton was so impressed by her screen test that she was cast in his films Jamaica Inn and then The Hunchback of Notre Dame. At 19 she was already a star. She has acted in many successful films and collaborated many times with director John Ford as well as with her friend John Wayne.
Although she was never nominated for an Oscar, last November she was presented with an honorary Academy Award inscribed, "To Maureen O'Hara, one of Hollywood's brightest stars, whose inspiring performances glowed with passion, warmth and strength." She was married three times, has one daughter and at 94 spends most of her time at her home in County Cork, Ireland. If you want to find out more about her you can read her autobiography, listed below, or see her in action in one of her many wonderful films.
'Tis Herself: An autobiography of Maureen O'Hara, who reminisces about her extraordinary life. She is as passionate and fascinating in real life as the characters she has played on film.
The Quiet Man is John Ford's beautiful homage to Ireland starring John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara. It tells the story of an American boxer who returns to the village where he was born in Ireland, where he finds love with a fiery Irish beauty.
McLintock! is a western once again starring the duo of John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara. Wayne plays a larger-than-life cattle baron who will stop at nothing to regain the love of his estranged wife, played by O'Hara.
The Hunchback of Notre Dame stars Charles Laughton as the deformed bell ringer, Quasimodo, and Maureen O'Hara as the beautiful gypsy, Esmeralda, he loves. This is the movie that made O'Hara a star.
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