Here is a profile of the Hollywood actress Donna Reed (born Donna Belle Mullenger: 1921 – 1986), who will always be remembered for her portrayal of the character “Mary Bailey” in the Frank Capra film, It’s a Wonderful Life (RKO, 1947).
This 1960 interview appeared in Coronet Magazine as one more tiny element that made up the enormous publicity machine that was created to promote the ABC TV production, The Donna Reed Show
, a program that was launched a year and a half earlier. The article serves as a nice summary of her life and career up until 1960, and in the piece the actress refers to her earliest days growing up on a family farm in Iowa, her salad days as a maid, librarian and community college student in Los Angeles and her deepest frustrations with pin-headed casting agents who placed her in limited rolls for so many years:
“Then, in 1953, Harry Cohn, boss of Columbia Pictures, cast Donna as a prostitute…Her performance won her an Academy Award”.
Donna Reed interview 1960donna reed article 1960donna reed recollection of her careerdonna reed biofamous people from denison iowafamous graduates from los angeles city collegedonna reed show infowho played mary bailey in IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFEwho played jimmy stewart's wife in IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFEmiddle-aged donna reed1953 OSCAR for donna reeddid donna reed ever win an oscar1953 ACADEMY AWARD for donna reeddid donna reed ever win an academy award
Donna Reed interview 1960donna reed article 1960donna reed recollection of her careerdonna reed biofamous people from denison iowafamous graduates from los angeles city collegedonna reed show infowho played mary bailey in IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFEwho played jimmy stewart's wife in IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFEmiddle-aged donna reed1953 OSCAR for donna reeddid donna reed ever win an oscar1953 ACADEMY AWARD for donna reeddid donna reed ever win an academy award
