Natalie Wood

Natalie Wood was born Natasha Nikolaevna Gurdin on July 20, 1938, in San Francisco, California. Her earliest popular role was as Susan Walker in Miracle on 34th Street. Her other huge roles were as Judy, in 1955's Rebel Without a Cause, which earned her an Academy Award nomination, and as Maria in West Side Story.

My own personal favourite role of Wood's is as Daisy Clover, in the 1965 film Inside Daisy Clover. Christopher Plummer is also in this film, and it's a really great piece of work. She also earned two other Academy Award nominations, with Splendor In The Grass in 1961, and Love With The Proper Stranger in 1963.

Natalie Wood was my father's favourite actress back in the day, and as a result, my sister was named Natalie, after her. I was always jealous that I didn't get to be named after somebody cool.

In 1981 while sailing on a yacht with husband Robert Wagner, Natalie Wood fell into the water while trying to board a dinghy, and tragically drowned.

Filmography:

• Brainstorm, as Karen Brace (1983)
• The Last Married Couple in America, as Mari Thompson (1980)
• Willie and Phil, as Guest (1980)
• Meteor, as Tatiana Nikolaevna Donskaya (1979)
• From Here to Eternity, as Karen Holmes (1979)
• Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, as Magie (1976)
• Peeper, and Ellen Prendergast (1975)
• I'm a Stranger Here Myself, as herself
• The Candidate, as herself (1972)
• Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice, as Carol (1969)
• Penelope, as Mrs. Penelope Elcott (1966)
• This Property is Condemned, as Alva Starr (1966)
• Inside Daisy Clover, as Daisy Clover (1965)
• The Great Race, as Maggie DuBois (1965)
• Sex and the Single Girl, as Helen Gurley Brown (1964)
• Love with the Proper Stranger, as Angie Rossini (1963)
• Gypsy, as Louise "Gypsy Rose Lee" Hovick (1962)
• West Side Story, as Maria (1961)
• Splendor in the Grass, as Wilma Dean Loomis (1961)
• All the Fine Young Cannibals, as Salome Davis (1960)
• Cash McCall, as Lory Austen (1959)
• Marjorie Morningstar, as Marjorie Morgenstern (1958)
• Kings Go Forth, as Monique Blair (1958)
• Bombers B-52, as Lois Brennan (1957)
• The Burning Hills, as Maria Christina Colton (1956)
• The Girl He Left Behind, as Susan Daniels (1956)
• A Cry in the Night, as Liz Taggart (1956)
• The Searchers, as Debbie Edwards (1956)
• Rebel Without a Cause, as Judy (1955)
• One Desire, as Seely Dowder (1955)
• The Silver Chalice as Helena (child) (1954)
• Just For You as Barbara Blake (1952)
• The Rose Bowl Story, as Sally Burke (1952)
• The Star, as Gretchen (1952)
• The Blue Veil, as Stephanie Rawlins (1951)
• Dear Brat, as Pauline (1951)
• The Jackpot, as Phyllis Lawrence (1950)
• Never a Dull Moment, as Nan (1950)
• Our Very Own, as Penny (1950)
• No Sad Songs For Me, as Polly Scott (1950)
• Father was a Fullback, as Ellen Cooper (1949)
• The Green Promise, as Susan Matthews (1949)
• Chicken Every Sunday, as Ruth Hefferan (1948)
• Scudda Hoo! Scudda Hay!, as Bean McGill (1948)
• Driftwood, as Jenny (1947)
• The Ghost and Mrs. Muir, as Anna Muir (child) (1947)
• Miracle on 34^th Street, as Susan Walker (1947)
• The Bride Wore Boots, as Carol Warren (1946)
• Tomorrow is Forever, as Margaret Ludwig (1946)
• Happy Land, bit part (1943)
• The Moon is Down, as Carrie (child) (1943)

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source: www.imdb.com