Brazen Hussy ~ Maureen O'Hara

"She is like the emerald shower which succeeds the initial explosion of a skyrocket."

~~ Film Critic Bosley Crowther about Maureen O'Hara

Maureen Fitzsimons on August 17, 1920 in Ranelah, Dublin, Ireland, was born. We know her as the fiesty redheaded fireball ~~ Maureen O'Hara. She was the daughter off Charles Stewart Parnell FitzSimons, and wife Marguerite, and granddaughter of Bartholomew FitzSimons and Bridget Tormey. Maureen is one of six children being the second one in line. Her father was a clothier in Dublin and had a part ownership of an Irish soccer team named the Shamrock Rovers.

Maureen grew up as a tomboy. She played boys games, etc. but early on she began performing for neighbors. At the age of five she was made the boss of a school play, and by the age of ten she was a tomboy who was only interested in becoming a truck driver. At 12, she took courses at the Dublin Dramatic Society and took ballet. At the age of 15 she became one of the youngest student to enter Trinity College after completing the Guild Hall School of Music's Drama Course. She maintained a strong interest in acting and enrolled in the Burke's School of Elocution. She was an honor student at the London School of Music. While still a teenager, at 17, she was accepted to act in the famous Abbey Theater, where she acted in The Merchant of Venice, and worked with Harry Richman.. At her father's insistence, Maureen also studied secretarial and bookkeeping courses, and she has used these considerable skills throughout her life.

As a young girl growing she wanted to be in the biz ~ show biz, n'est ce pas ~ She began performing on stage as well as the local radio station. She began winning awards in drama contests from the age of 14.

At a young age she said "I am going to be the most famous actress in the whole world". Although she did not become the most famous actress, she did however with her fiery red hair and beautiful eyes make such an impact that Herbert T. Kalmus, inventor of the Technicolor process, would never hesitate to render a color commitment to a studio if he knew Maureen would be starring in the film! Kalmus used Maureen's image and coloring to literally sell his invention. She became known as the "The Queen of Technicolor" after a series of flamboyant costume epics.

Maureen's first part was in the film "Kicking The Moon Around". She had a small part playing a secretary. Later that year she was in "My Irish Molly" playing the role of Eileen O'Shea. While making "Jamaican Inn", she married George Hanley Brown, on June 12, 1939, (her first marriage). The marriage was annulled in Sept, 1940, by her parents before the marriage was consummated. Maureen set her sights on Hollywood and packed her bags.

In Hollywood her dreams were about to come true as she starred in her first film in the US, the classic "Hunch Back of Notre Dame" with Charles Laughton. and honeymooned in New Orleans. In 1940 she appeared in two more films "A Bill Of Divorcement" and "Dance, Girl, Dance". Those two films were not received as well as the Hunh Back of Notre Dame.

She married Will Price in December of 1941. Her daughter, Bronwyn Fitzsimmons, was born on June 30, 1944. Bronwyn later appeared in the film Spencer's Mountain. The marriage between Maureen and Will did not work out because of Mr. Price's alcoholism and physical abuse of his wife, and she divorced him August, 1952, and Maureen prevailed in a custody hearing in August, 1955.

In 1941, John Ford cast her in "How Green Was My Valley," which began a friendship between Ford and O'Hara that resulted in four more films with him: "Rio Grande", "The Quiet Man," (a hit by her spectacular performance as Mary Kate Danaher, John Ford won an Oscar for Best Director. Though many attributed his success to Maureen's performance), "Wings of Eagles" and "The Long Gray Line."

Ford reportedly described her as "the best bloody actress in Hollywood."

She played Angharad in "How Green Was My Valley". Then in 1947 Maureen appeared in two big hits, "Sinbad The Sailor" and "Miracle On 34th Street". Miracle on 34th Street is a Christmas classic, influenced by her performance.

In 1957 she starred in "The Wings of Eagles" when the movie was finished Maureen took a break from films. Returning in 1960 to star in "Our Man from Havana".

Then in 1961 she played "Maggie McKendrick" in one of everyone's favorite "The Parent Trap" starring with Brian Keith and Haley Mills. She starred in "Spencer's Mountain", a tearjerker two years later.

Maureen also starred in many TV shows including "The Jimmy Dean Show", "The Andy Williams Show" she acted in "Mrs. Miniver": and in "The Scarlet Pimpernel". In 1960 she made "Spellbound", "A City of Angels" in 1963, "High Button Shoes" in 1966 and "Who's Afraid of Mother" in 1967. She also released an album called "Maureen O'Hara Sings Her Favorite Irish Songs".

Maureen O'Hara made her first film with John Wayne in "Rio Grande". Their chemistry together lit up the screen as they lit up our lives of laughter and entertainment. She with her magnetic and and she starred in 4 more films with him, "The Quiet Man", "Wings of Eagles", McClintock" and "Jake". His larger than life persona was a perfect match for her larger than life persona. The dynamic chemistry between these two stars made 5 movies together with each one a success and all of them still memorable due to the amazing talent of both Maureen O'Hara and John Wayne. Their chemistry was so intense, many people thought they were married in real life. They were, however, the best of friends in real life.

In 1968 Maureen O'Hara married Charles Blair, her real-life version of John Wayne. Maureen had known Charles for many years as a friend of the family. General Blair was a famous aviator. Charles was a Brigadlier General in the Air Force and a Senior Pilot with Pan American as well as his record-breaking aeronautic achievements. During this time Maureen was paired up with Henry Fonda in the TV movie "The Red Pony", (which won the prestigious Peabody Award for Excellence).

With her husband Charles, she managed a commuter sea plane service in the Caribbean, "Antilles Airboats". Not only did she traveled the world with her husband, She owned and published a magazine "The Virgin Islander" writing a monthly column "Maureen O'Hara Says".

In 1973 Charles Blair died in a plane crash in 1973. Although she was devastated, she kept on. Her 10 year marriage of wonerful memories substaining her, she carried on. She still had a business to run. She was elected CEO and President of Antilles Airboats making history of being the first woman president of a scheduled airline in the United States.

In 1991 she appeared in the film "Only the Lonely" with the late John Candy. In 1995, made the TV movie "The Christmas Box" and in 1998 the TV movie, "Cab to Canada", and "The Last Dance" in 2001.

She is the proud grandmother of Ester Vincent Yoakum III, the son of her daughter, Bronwyn.

Maureen will turn 86 on August 17th, 2006. At 85 she is still fiesty and her larger than life persona is still very much a part of her everyday. She is still absolutely stunning, with that trademark red hair, dazzling smile and those huge, expressive eyes. Maureen O'Hara personifies the term a "class act" by her contribution to life. Her legacy of films and her persona as a strong, courageous and intelligent woman, is a role model for all women everywhere.