Maureen O'Hara

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Maureen O’Hara was born Maureen FitzSimons on August 17, 1920, in Dublin, Ireland.

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She was a gifted actress whose career began at the Abbey Theatre before she transitioned to film when Charles Laughton asked Alfred Hitchcock to cast her opposite him in Jamaica Inn (1939).

 

Her role as Esmeralda in The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1939), with Laughton again, marked her arrival in Hollywood.

 

Known as the ‘Queen of Technicolor’, O’Hara’s vibrant red hair and commanding presence made her a standout star of her era. She frequently collaborated with John Wayne, creating memorable performances in films like The Quiet Man (1952) and McLintock! (1963).

 

O’Hara was celebrated for portraying strong, independent women, which resonated with her own spirited nature.

 

O'Hara drifted away from acting in the 1970s to focus on other pursuits but made occasional returns to both film and TV in the decades that followed. She was awarded an Honorary Oscar in 2014 (having never previously received a nomination) and passed away in October 2015, at the age of 95, at her home in Boise, Idaho.