Red-haired Maureen O’Hara was a much-loved Irish film actress. She was famous for playing feisty, passionate, sensible heroines.
John Ford directed many of her films and she often starred alongside her long-time friend John Wayne.
‘Tis Herself, her autobiography, was a New York Times Bestseller when it was published in 2004. She was named Irish America magazine’s “Irish American of the Year” in 2005. She has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 7004 Hollywood Blvd.
In 2004, Maureen O’Hara received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Irish Film and Television Academy. She was formally inducted into the Irish America Hall of Fame at New Ross, County Wexford, and received letters from Mary McAleese and Bill Clinton in 2011.
How could you have had such a wonderful life as me if there wasn’t a God directing?
In a career that has lasted for over 60 years, I have acted, punched, swashbuckled, and shot my way through an absurdly masculine profession.
They said my nose was too big and they wanted to bob my nose. I said, sorry. If that’s what you want, buy me a ticket and I’ll go home.
Charles Laughton signed me to my first movie contract at 17. He later asked my parents if he could adopt me.
I didn’t let anyone push me into things I didn’t want to do where my career was concerned. So why did I crumble when it came to men?