Maureen O’Hara (1920-2015)

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Esmeralda Smiling, Maureen O'Hara 1939 HUnchback of Notre Dame picture image

Maureen O’Hara as Esmeralda 1939 Hunchback of Notre Dame

As many of you may already know, yesterday Maureen O’Hara died peacefully at her home in Idaho at the age of 95.

O’Hara has been hailed as the queen of Technicolor. Her filmography was very long and included some very well regarded movies like The Quiet Man (1952), How Green was my Valley (1940), and Miracle on 34th Street (1947), just to name a few, she had many.

Hunchback of Notre Dame was her hollywood debut and I maintain that it was the best movie version of Hunchback.

I do recommend reading her autobiography. It’s a really engaging read that captures her passionate fiery personality.

In her autobiography, written with longtime manager John Nicoletti, O’Hara wrote:

“When I was young, I didn’t think I was at all pretty. I was told only that I had a sulky, pouty face. Ironically, after I got to Hollywood, I resented that I didn’t get a crack at more dramatic role because I photographed so beautifully. More than anything, though, it was the way I used my eyes that caused audiences to look deep inside my characters to see what else was there.”

 

 

 

3 Weird Facts about Maureen O’Hara

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Maureen O'Hara picture image

Maureen O’Hara

Maureen O’Hara played Esmeralda in the 1939 version of The Hunchback of Notre Dame

-Her Stage name of O’Hara was forced on her to fit marquees.

-Named her only child Bronwyn after a character from How Green was my Valley.

-Did all her own stunts. In the seen in Hunchback were Quasimodo is holding her up to the crowd after saving her from hanging, O’Hara did that with a stunt man without a safety  net and it was cobblestone below. I believe in her autobiography she goes more into detail.

If you want to learn more about Maureen O’Hara you can read her autobiography ‘Tis Herself: An Autobiography. It’s a good read.  I recommend it.