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Margaret O'Brien

Margaret O'Brien

Margaret O'Brien is an American film actress, and although her career was brief, was one of the most highly regarded child actors in cinema history.

Born Angela Maxine O'Brien, she made her first film appearance in a short film at the age of four, but it was the following year that her first major role brought her widespread attention. As a five year old in Journey for Margaret (1942), O'Brien won wide praise for her convincing acting style.

She played a young French girl, and spoke and sang all her dialogue with a French accent, in Jane Eyre (1944). Arguably her most memorable role was as Tootie in Meet Me in St. Louis (1944) opposite Judy Garland). O'Brien had by this time, added singing and dancing to her achievements and was rewarded with an Academy Juvenile Award the following year. Her other successes included The Canterville Ghost (1944) and Our Vines Have Tender Grapes (1945), but she was unable to make the transition to adult roles.

O'Brien's acting roles as an adult have been rare, but mostly in independent films. However, she does do occasional interviews, mostly for the Turner Classic Movies cable network.

She has been married twice, to Harold Allen Jr. (from 1959 to 1968), and later to Roy Thorsen (that marriage produced her only child, Mara Tolene Thorsen, born in 1977).

O'Brien has two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Motion Pictures at 6608 Hollywood Boulevard, and for television at 1620 Vine St.


Note: This profile was written in or before 2004.

Margaret O'Brien Facts

Birth NameAngela Maxine O'Brien
OccupationActress
BirthdayJanuary 15, 1937 (86)
SignCapricorn
BirthplaceSan Diego, California, USA

Selected Filmography

Meet Me in St. Louis
Till The Clouds Roll By
Little Women
Meet Me in St Louis
The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
White Heat
The Barefoot Contessa
The Canterville Ghost
That's Entertainment
Spinning into Butter
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