Susan Hayward
American actress known for true-story roles and an Oscar win.
via Wikipedia: Charlton Heston · see source
- field
- Acting
- nationality
- American
Lore & Background
At age seven she was hit by a car, fracturing her hip and legs, which left her with a distinctive hip swivel. Her early career included small roles and pinup photos she disliked. She won the Oscar for I Want to Live!
Reader's Guide
Susan Hayward's significance lies in her ability to bring real-life women to the screen with dramatic intensity, earning her five Academy Award nominations and one win. This focus on biographical portrayals set her apart from many contemporaries. Her career spanned from the late 1930s to the early 1970s, with a peak in the 1940s and 1950s. After her death from brain cancer, she is remembered as a versatile star who specialized in emotionally demanding roles.
Did You Know?
- Hayward was born Edythe Marrener and changed her name by talent agent Max Arnow when she started at Warner Bros.
- She was hit by a car at age seven, fracturing her hip and legs, which left her with a distinctive hip swivel.
- She sang her own vocals in I'll Cry Tomorrow, though Jane Froman's voice was used in With a Song in My Heart.
Frequently Asked Questions
What type of roles was Susan Hayward most associated with?
Hayward built her film legacy around women drawn from true stories, delivering raw, emotionally charged performances in biographical and legal-drama pictures throughout the 1940s and 1950s.
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