Maureen O'Hara debuted in the 1939 film Jamaica Inn, a production that launched her career under the guidance of Charles Laughton. Born Maureen FitzSimons in 1920, the Dublin native eventually transitioned from her early theatre training in Ireland to become a fixture of American cinema, recognized for her screen presence throughout the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s.
Early Development and Theatre
Raised in the Dublin suburb of Ranelagh, O'Hara began training in drama, music, and dance as a child. She joined the Rathmines Theatre Company at age 10 and the Abbey Theatre at age 14. Her early recognition included the Dublin Feis Award for a performance as Portia in The Merchant of Venice. Before her film success, she worked as a typist and bookkeeper at the Eveready Battery Company.
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After an unsatisfactory screen test, Charles Laughton facilitated her casting in Jamaica Inn. Laughton required she change her surname from FitzSimons to O'Hara for her film appearances. She moved to Hollywood in 1939 to star in The Hunchback of Notre Dame, securing a contract with RKO Pictures. This period established her reputation in adventure films and Westerns, earning her the moniker of the Queen of Technicolor.
Collaborations and Later Life
O'Hara maintained a significant professional association with director John Ford and actor John Wayne, appearing together in films including Rio Grande, The Quiet Man, and The Wings of Eagles. She retired from the film industry in 1971 but returned for the 1991 production Only the Lonely. In later years, she managed a flying business in Saint Croix and authored her 2004 autobiography, 'Tis Herself.
Recognition and Legacy
O'Hara received the Academy Honorary Award in 2014 and the Great Immigrants Award in 2009. She also held a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Upon her death in 2015 in Boise, she was interred at Arlington National Cemetery. The Irish Times subsequently ranked her as the number one Irish film actor in 2020.
Fast facts
- Born: 1920, Ranelagh
- Died: 2015, Boise
- Citizenship: Ireland, United States
- Autobiography: 'Tis Herself (2004)
- Academy Honorary Award: 2014
- Burial site: Arlington National Cemetery
Questions readers ask
Did Maureen O'Hara and John Wayne have a romantic relationship?
Despite their strong onscreen chemistry, the two were long-time friends and professional collaborators.
Why did she change her name from FitzSimons?
Charles Laughton insisted she adopt the surname O'Hara for her professional film career.
Achievements
- Worked as writer, autobiographer and singer
