Susan Hayward was a famous movie star.
She acted in many films. She even won a big prize for her work.
People loved watching her on screen. She was very good at her job. Do you like movies?
Susan Hayward was a famous movie star.
She grew up in New York. As a girl, she acted in school plays.
She moved to Hollywood to work. She acted in many stories about real people. Susan won a big prize for her acting.
She was very good at her job. People loved her films.
Susan Hayward was a famous American actress.
She was born Edythe Marrener in Brooklyn, New York. As a girl, she acted in school plays. She was even named "Most Dramatic" by her class.
In 1937, she moved to Hollywood. She first worked as a fashion model. Later, she became a movie star. She was known for playing women in true stories. Susan won many awards for her skill.
She won an Academy Award for the film *I Want to Live!* in 1958. This film told the story of Barbara Graham. She also won a prize at the Cannes Film Festival.
One of her most popular films was *David and Bathsheba*.
Susan acted in many films and on TV. She worked until the early 1970s. She died in 1975 from brain cancer. Even when she was very ill, she appeared at the Academy Awards. She was a very talented actress.
Susan Hayward was a famous American actress.
She was known for playing women in true stories. This meant she acted out parts of real people. People loved watching her because she was very good at drama. She brought these real lives to the big screen. Her skill made her one of the biggest stars in Hollywood.
Her path to stardom had many steps. She started as a fashion model first. In 1937, she traveled to Hollywood to audition for a big role. She did not get that part, but she stayed to work. A talent agent changed her name to Susan Hayward. She began with small roles at Warner Bros. for $50 a week.
Susan was born Edythe Marrener on June 30, 1917. She grew up in the Flatbush neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York. Her parents were Ellen and Walter Marrener. She had an older sister named Florence and a brother named Walter Jr. When she was young, she acted in many school plays. Her classmates even named her "Most Dramatic."
Many awards recognized her great talent over the years. She received five Academy Award nominations for Best Actress. One famous nomination was for the 1947 film *Smash-Up, the Story of a Woman*. In 1952, she won a Golden Globe for *With a Song in My Heart*. Her biggest win was the Academy Award in 1958.
This was for her role in *I Want to Live!* where she played Barbara Graham. She also won Best Actress at the Cannes Film Festival for *I'll Cry Tomorrow."
Susan's life and work connected her to many famous people. She acted alongside stars like Gregory Peck and John Wayne. Some of her most popular movies were *David and Bathsheba* and *The Conqueror*.
She continued working in films and on TV until 1972. Even when she was very ill, she appeared at the Academy Awards in 1974. Susan died in 1975 from brain cancer.
Susan Hayward was a celebrated American actress known for her intense dramatic performances.
She became famous for portraying women whose lives were based on true stories. This specialty allowed her to bring complex, real-life struggles to the cinema screen. Her ability to inhabit these roles earned her significant respect from critics and audiences alike. Throughout her career, she became a major figure in the Golden Age of Hollywood.
Hayward's journey to stardom involved several distinct professional stages. She began her career as a fashion model before moving to Hollywood in 1937. She traveled there to audition for the iconic role of Scarlett O'Hara in *Gone with the Wind*. Although she did not win that part, she secured a contract with Warner Bros. A talent agent changed her birth name, Edythe Marrener, to Susan Hayward. Her initial contract paid her $50 per week for six months.
Her early film career consisted of small roles and supporting parts. She appeared in films like *Hollywood Hotel* and *The Sisters*. During this time, she also posed for "cheesecake" publicity photos. These were pinup-style images that many actresses of the era disliked. Eventually, she moved to Paramount Studios in 1939 with a $250 per week contract. Her first major breakthrough came in the film *Beau Geste*, where she played a character named Isobel.
As her talent grew, Hayward entered a period of massive commercial success. In 1948, producer Walter Wanger signed her to a seven-year contract. This agreement was worth $100,000 per year. During the 1950s, she starred in several huge hits. These included *David and Bathsheba* with Gregory Peck and the musical *With a Song in My Heart*. She also appeared in *The Snows of Kilimanjaro*.
Hayward's career is defined by her many prestigious awards and nominations. She received five Academy Award nominations for Best Actress. In 1955, she won the Best Actress award at the Cannes Film Festival for *I'll Cry Tomorrow*. Her most significant achievement came in 1958 when she won the Academy Award for Best Actress. This was for her role as death row inmate Barbara Graham in *I Want to Live!*.
Some critics even called this one of the greatest acting performances in Hollywood history.
Beyond her acting, Hayward's life included personal challenges and resilience. In 1924, she was hit by a car and suffered a fractured hip and broken legs. This injury left her with a distinctive hip swivel that lasted for the rest of her life. Even as her film appearances became less frequent in later years, she continued to work in television. She appeared in the TV movie *Heat of Anger* and the film *The Revengers* in 1972.
In her final years, Hayward faced a serious illness. She was diagnosed with brain cancer, which affected her ability to work. Despite being very ill, she made a final public appearance at the 1974 Academy Awards. With the support of actor Charlton Heston, she was able to present an award on stage. Susan Hayward passed away in 1975. Her legacy remains tied to the powerful, true-to-life characters she brought to life.
Where will your curiosity go next?
🖼️ Images & Media (11)
More to explore
🪜 Step back
Simpler topics to build understanding
What is Nepedia?
A free, ad-free encyclopedia for children. Every article is written at five reading levels, so the same page works for a five-year-old and a fifteen-year-old — use the level switcher above to see this one change. No account needed to read.