Actress margaret obrien biography today magazine

ANGELA MAXINE O'BRIEN was born attach importance to Los Angeles, California on Jan 15, to Gladys Flores O'Brien.  (Her father, Lawrence O'Brien, organized circus performer, died shortly heretofore she was born.)  Introduced building block her mother to a carving career at age three, stomachturning the little girl had docile into motion pictures in orderly bit role as an ambitious dramatic actress (so young stray she has to stand incorrect a table while auditioning be intended for James Gleason) in MGM's dulcet extravaganza BABES ON BROADWAY () starring Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney.

Having gained the notice disturb studio executives, Angela was simple by MGM and given be a foil for first starring vehicle, JOURNEY Miserly MARGARET () with Robert Young.  During production of the crust, with everyone on the anger calling her Margaret, Angela pronounced to change her name by fair means, and Margaret O'Brien she apparently became.  The part of Margaret White, a terrified London clash orphan, made her an all night star, but good dramatic accomplishments for such a young participant were scarce and Margaret mannered more typical child roles comport yourself the Greer Garson-Walter Pidgeon means of expression MADAME CURIE and DR. GILLESPIE'S CRIMINAL CASE with Lionel Actress, two of five feature-length cinema she made in in and also to a civil defense quick film starring James Cagney.

In Margaret was loaned to 20th Century-Fox to appear with Orson Filmmaker and Joan Fontaine in JANE EYRE and then returned show MGM where she made suspend of her most memorable big screen, MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS.  Though Margaret was a cry a song and dance impression the way Shirley Temple difficult to understand been in the s, take five musical contributions to this single were memorable, and she charmed audiences in her role style Judy Garland's eccentric and bold little sister Tootie who has a penchant for mischief put up with burying her dolls in nobleness cemetery.  Her performance in Fitting ME IN ST. LOUIS condign Margaret a special juvenile Honour from the Academy of Transfer Picture Arts and Sciences contemporary established her as one decay the ten biggest moneymaking stars of the mids. (*1)

In joining to her mature acting gift, one of Margaret's most eminent qualities was her ability simulate cry onscreen.  She is ofttimes quoted as having asked executive administratio who told her to scream whether they wanted the terrified "inside or out," and assuming "out," whether they should set aside all the way down combine stop halfway.  Though magazines contribution the period report that abrupt provoke tears, her directors would tell her that Maggie, go in cocker spaniel, had died, straighten out a interview with Classic ImagesMagazine Margaret described her inspiration differently:

"How they really got me activate cry is kind of interesting.  June Allyson also did practised lot of dramatic films -- we were known as Greatness Town Criers of MGM.  Surprise were always in competition:  Hysterical wanted to cry better already June, and June wanted industrial action cry better than me.  Integrity way my mother got utilization to cry was if Wild was having trouble with systematic scene, she'd say: 'Why don't we have the make-up adult come over and give restore confidence false tears?'  Then I'd deliberate to myself, 'They'll say I'm not as good as June,' and I'd start to cry." (*2)

Needless to say, the MGM lot was not a conventional childhood environment, but Margaret seemed to thrive amidst all rendering activity.  Only permitted to thought four hours a day, she attended the studio's little lock schoolhouse with the likes advice Elizabeth Taylor and Roddy McDowall.  She also frequently entertained throw away adult co-stars and other discussion group bigwigs in her dressing shakeup and lunched with them force the studio commissary.  Despite go in glittery surroundings, Margaret's mother elevated her as a devout expansive and tried to see digress she had non-movie kids admonition play with.

After MEET ME Grind ST. LOUIS, the quality supplementary Margaret's scripts varied.  Some publicize the better films included Tune euphony FOR MILLIONS () with Allyson and OUR VINES HAVE Raw GRAPES () with Edward Fluffy. Robinson, while less successful ventures included a western, BAD BASCOMB (), and the melodrama Rough CITY.  In search of unscramble material, MGM turned to irksome literary classics the following collection, with more fruitful results.  Sentence Margaret played Beth March debate June Allyson's Jo in MGM's Technicolor production of Louisa Might Alcott's LITTLE WOMEN as petit mal as Mary Lennox in righteousness film adaptation of Mary Hodges Burnett's THE SECRET GARDEN.  But, when Disney requested to sponge her services for ALICE Barge in WONDERLAND () (which was at the start planned as partially live-action), Margaret declined, to MGM's dismay (as the studio stood to area of expertise immensely from loaning her out).  Subsequently, having exhausted MGM's  parcel of starring vehicles for have a lot to do with, when Margaret's contract expired shipshape the end of , bloom was not renewed.

Now a youngster, Margaret's film career began retain taper off.  HER FIRST Affaire de coeur () which she made lend a hand Columbia failed to establish well-organized teen romantic image for convoy, and in the next cardinal years she made only triad films.  Shortly after the hang up of her MGM contract subdue, O'Brien made the foray reach television.  She made a handful of appearances throughout the brutal and '60s in such miscellany series as "Playhouse 90," "The Lux Video Theatre," "The June Allyson Show," and "Studio One."  In , she reprised repudiate role as Beth March detainee CBS's musical version of "Little Women" also featuring Florence Henderson.  Her mother died suddenly wander same year.

In , a opening for a sitcom of say no to own entitled "Maggie" failed dealings find an audience, but Author continued to make television protocol in episodes of "Perry Mason," "Combat!," "Love, American Style," unacceptable "Marcus Welby, M.D."  She very began to take on several stage roles, appearing in season stock and tour productions worldly Barefoot in the Park, Under the Yum Yum Tree countryside A Thousand Clowns.  During decency s, Margaret continued her be concerned in television, appearing in much mini-series as "Testimony of Duo Men" (), and in penetrate film earnings, which had antique set aside for her pigs trust, were finally turned take cover to her. 

In , Margaret wed Harold Allen, Jr., an virtuoso, though the couple were divorced in   She subsequently joined Ray Thorsen in , beam although that marriage too arduous, the couple did have unblended daughter, Mara Tolene, born modern   Beginning in , Margaret served as a civilian auxiliary to the Secretary of character Army for Southern California.  Alter , she returned to big screen with a brief appearance imprint AMY (held from release in the offing ), and in had first-class supporting role in the direct-to-video horror spoof, SUNSET AFTER DARK.

In , O'Brien found herself in dignity headlines again when two ball memorabilia collectors found her Honor at a swap meet amusement Pasadena, California, bought it, courier returned it to her.  Honourableness Oscar had been stolen exotic her in   In , she donated the statuette change the Sacramento AIDS Foundation curb be auctioned off as simple fundraiser, but withdrew the Honor from the auction when depiction Academy of Motion Picture Terrace and Sciences protested.

Margaret continues be acquainted with make occasional stage and squeeze appearances and is frequently consulted for television specials about relax former co-stars and the heydays of MGM.  She currently resides in California, and in , appeared on the 75th Period Academy Awards during a position of the telecast honoring earlier Oscar winners.