“Being an Irishwoman means many things to me. An Irishwoman is strong and feisty. She has guts and stands up for what she believes in… She’s not above a sock in the jaw if you have it coming.” — Maureen O’Hara
Maureen O’Hara (born Maureen FitzSimons, August 17, 1920 – October 24, 2015) was an Irish-born naturalized American actress who became successful in Hollywood from the 1940s through to the 1960s. She started acting as a child and by the age of 14, she had joined the Abbey Theatre company. While there, she was “discovered” by the American actor Harry Richman, who recommended her for a screen test in London.
Charles Laughton, an actor and producer, was intrigued by O’Hara’s screen test, despite what she considered an unsatisfactory costume and makeup. He signed her to a seven-year contract with his company, Mayflower Pictures, and changed her name from FitzSimons to O’Hara.
Her earliest credited screen role was in Jamaica Inn (1939), directed by Alfred Hitchcock and produced by Laughton. Though a supporting role, it put her on the international map. Laughton then brought her to Hollywood to star alongside him in The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1939), where she played the gypsy Esmeralda. This was her major breakthrough — she was only 19 at the time.
In the late 1930s, O’Hara was known for her striking red hair, porcelain complexion, and expressive eyes (though her films were still in black-and-white, her looks made a lasting impression). She quickly earned the nickname “The Queen of Technicolor” in the 1940s, but even in her earliest roles, her strong-willed characters and passionate performances stood out.
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