Maureen O’Hara
Nov 4, 2015 | by Becky Oeltjenbruns
From the film Black Swan
On October 25, 2015 the world lost a Hollywood legend, a strong woman, and an all-around icon. I was first introduced to Maureen O’Hara in the film McLintock!. My dad, an ardent John Wayne fan, counts this among one of his favorite films and I could see why – even as a young girl. O’Hara and Wayne were a volatile, fun, and electric combination. There was something about her fiery red hair, her sass, determination, and strength that grabbed my attention. The women in my life were all strong, but I had never seen any of them be so bold and brassy. I was hooked and I wasn’t alone. Maureen O’Hara had a celebrated career (even earning the nickname “The Queen of Technicolor“) and inspired a devoted fan-base throughout her ninety five years. Let’s get to know more about this amazing lady.
Maureen O’Hara entered this world in a sleepy suburb of Dublin, the second child of a talented singer (her mom) and business owner (her dad). Her dad was a partial owner of a football team and she describes her childhood as filled with sports and music. These disparate influences made for an early conflict – she wanted to either sing in the opera or play football when she grew up. Considering this selection of career goals, it’s easy to see where she drew inspiration for the complex characters she became on screen. (P.s. I love that she wanted to play rough and tumble sports in a time when women were discouraged to do so!) In the end, the common factor won out – both these passions involved being in front of an audience and acting was the perfect performance vehicle. At fourteen she was accepted into the Abbey Theatre in Dublin and her path was set. A mere three years later, Maureen scurried off to England to do some screen tests. She landed a couple small roles, but her mesmerizing features and pluck soon led to more opportunities.
By 1939 her break out role arrived – Esmeralda in The Hunchback of Notre Dame. American audiences were captivated by her performance and the Queen of Technicolor officially landed in Hollywood. Her future work was marked by the portrayal of empowered, opinionated characters. Perhaps her collaborations with Wayne is where this strength is captured best. Watch the kiss scene in The Quiet Man if you need any proof. (By the way, she had to go to the hospital after this scene as Wayne’s blocking of her slap caused all her fingers to swell – she was really going for it!) She retired from films by the late 1960s, but the adventures were just beginning for our leading lady. Maureen followed in her mother’s footsteps and sang her way on to the Broadway stage in Christine. After a successful run in NYC, warmer climates and new challenges were beckoning…
Wayne and O’Hara
She married Charles Blair, aviator and entrepreneur, and helped him run an airline in the Virgin Islands. She describes this new chapter: “I got to live the adventures I’d only acted out on the Fox and Universal lots.” She wasn’t just brave in film, but also brave in life. Maureen had to rely on her natural courage again when Charles sadly passed away in 1978. She went on to manage the company on her own, making history as the first female president of an airline. Decades later, she returned briefly to her first love of acting in Only the Lonely. By the early 2000s she retired to her native land, settling in on an Irish estate. Three years ago, she returned to the States as her health declined and she wanted to be closer to her children and grandchildren.
Maureen never received an Oscar nomination (a crying shame in my opinion), but she did get an honorary Academy Award last year for her body of work. Maureen O’Hara left this world much like she entered it – surrounded by music, this time from the soundtrack of The Quiet Man, which she regarded as her favorite movie.
For our readers, what is your favorite Maureen O’Hara movie?