EVA MARIE SAINT
BORN: July 4, 1924
AGE: 99 years!
NICKNAME: The Helen Hayes of TV and, also, Bubbles
MARRIED: Once, to Jeffrey Hayden from 1951 to 2016, his death
CHILDREN: 2 Children
OSCAR WINS: Best Supporting Actress for “On The Waterfront”
KNOWN FOR: being one of the nicest actresses/people in the film industry
Since she could blow bubbles from inside her mouth, she was called Bubbles which stuck with her in high school even when she was a cheerleader ( of course, she was). She fell into doing theatre and got a job in TV before landing a role, opposite Marlon Brando, in On The Waterfront. She found working with Brando quite fine and just thought of him as an actor, nothing more. She learned so much from the director, Elia Kazan, and just grew from there. Speaking of growing, she was 9 months pregnant when she won the Oscar and gave birth to her son 2 days later…talk about cutting that close! She starred in many movies before switching to, mainly TV although she did star in many TV productions from the 50s. I didn’t showcase all her TV appearances but she was nominated for 5 Emmys finally winning for “People Like Us” from 1990.
She loved working with most people including Hitchcock, Brando and Colin Farrell who found her a Dream. She didn’t warm up to Warren Beatty who seemed aloof nor Montgomery Clift who was so painfully shy that it brought out her shyness so neither of them really spoke to one another.
She is one of the rare actors to have had a healthy, happy and loving marriage to Jeffrey Hayden who was a director and producer and both remained faithful to each other for over 60 yrs before he died at age 90.
She is still acting and loves it! It is as a voice over but, who cares because she is bloody 99!
MOVIES
1. ON THE WATERFRONT-1954
2. THAT CERTAIN FEELING-1956
3. A HATFUL OF RAIN- 1957
4. RAINTREE COUNTY-1957
5. NORTH BY NORTHWEST-1959
6. EXODUS- 1960
7. ALL FALL DOWN-1962
8. 36 HOURS-1964
9. SANDPIPER-1965
10. THE RUSSIANS ARE COMING, THE RUSSIANS ARE COMING-1966
Wonderful actress. Great post. I think I have seen all the movies you mentioned.
ReplyDeleteWow! I didn't know she was still alive. It doesn't surprise me she had a good marriage and no public scandals. Such a talent as well! I've seen most of the movies you listed.
ReplyDeleteI haven't seen her in anything in a while, but of course, she's 99. Wow.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure I've ever seen her in anything, but she sounds like a wonderful person not affected by fame from film or TV.
ReplyDeleteEva is a lovely actress and has always had a distinctive voice.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Janie
Another wonderful choice Birgit!
ReplyDeleteIn interviews she has always come across as very level-headed and down to earth. Perhaps that along with her preference for family over fame is what kept her from being a bigger star though she certainly maintained a distinguished place in the industry.
I'd say she had a career nearly comparable to Joanne Woodward, without the megastar husband. Speaking of which she was offered Joanne's breakthrough role in The Three Faces of Eve first but turned it down. She wasn't the only one either initially the director wanted Judy Garland, but the studio shot him down fearful that her personal problems would prove insurmountable. Then to queen of the Fox lot-Susan Hayward who passed, a decision she later regretted, followed by June Allyson who wanted to do it, but Dick Powell convinced her, probably correctly, she was not suited to it. Next, they turned to Ann Blyth who was expecting a child so declined. That’s when Eva Marie entered the picture-she would have been a good fit-but she turned it down because she was committed to A Hatful of Rain. Finally, Fox arranged to borrow Carroll Baker from Warners, but she discovered she was pregnant as well and had to withdraw at which point they turned to Woodward whom they had under contract. Complicated but the right actress got the role.
She has been in some stone-cold screen classics, but I’d say she had more consistent luck on television and in the theatre. So, my top ten of her work is a mix of the big and small screen.
My choices for Eva’s top 10:
North by Northwest-Clever film and the best she ever looked on screen, that fabulous black and red dress with roses is iconic.
People Like Us
Breaking Home Ties
On the Waterfront
Exodus
Nothing in Common
A Christmas to Remember
36 Hours
All Fall Down
That Certain Feeling
She's so beautiful. I've only seen two of her movies but she was great in both.
ReplyDeleteI haven't watched many of her movies, but I definitely will be watching more! She sounds like a wonderful actress. Thank you for sharing, Birgit!
ReplyDelete