Margaret O'Brien (born Angela Maxine O'Brien; January , ) is an
American film, radio, television, and stage actress. Beginning a
prolific career as a child actress in feature films for
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer at the age of four, O'Brien became one of the most
popular child stars in cinema history and was honored with a Juvenile
Academy Award as the outstanding child actress of . In her later
career, she appeared on television, on stage, and in supporting film
roles.Margaret O'Brien was born Angela Maxine O'Brien. Her name was
later changed following the success of the film Journey for Margaret
(), in which she played the title role. Her father, Lawrence O'Brien,
a circus performer, died before she was born. O'Brien's mother, Gladys
Flores, was a well-known flamenco dancer who often performed with her
sister Marissa, who was also a dancer. O'Brien is of half-Irish and
half-Spanish ancestry. She was raised Catholic.O'Brien made her first
film appearance in Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's Babes on Broadway () at the
age of four, but it was the following year that her first major role
brought her widespread attention. As a five-year-old in Journey for
Margaret (), O'Brien won wide praise for her quite convincing acting
style, unusual for a child of her age. By , she was considered a big
enough star to have a cameo appearance in the all-star military show
finale of Thousands Cheer. Also In , at the age of seven, Margaret
co-starred in "You, John Jones," a "War Bond/Effort," short film, with
James Cagney and Ann Sothern (playing their daughter), in which she
dramatically recited President Lincoln's "Gettysburg Address." She
played Adèle, a young French girl, and spoke and sang all her
dialogue with a French accent in Jane Eyre ().Arguably her most
memorable role was in Meet Me in St. Louis (), opposite Judy Garland.
As Tootie Smith, the feisty but fragile little sister of Judy Garland,
she was a bright point, especially in her musical numbers with Garland
and during a Halloween sequence in which she confronts a grouchy
neighbor. For her performance, she was awarded a special juvenile
Oscar in .
American film, radio, television, and stage actress. Beginning a
prolific career as a child actress in feature films for
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer at the age of four, O'Brien became one of the most
popular child stars in cinema history and was honored with a Juvenile
Academy Award as the outstanding child actress of . In her later
career, she appeared on television, on stage, and in supporting film
roles.Margaret O'Brien was born Angela Maxine O'Brien. Her name was
later changed following the success of the film Journey for Margaret
(), in which she played the title role. Her father, Lawrence O'Brien,
a circus performer, died before she was born. O'Brien's mother, Gladys
Flores, was a well-known flamenco dancer who often performed with her
sister Marissa, who was also a dancer. O'Brien is of half-Irish and
half-Spanish ancestry. She was raised Catholic.O'Brien made her first
film appearance in Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's Babes on Broadway () at the
age of four, but it was the following year that her first major role
brought her widespread attention. As a five-year-old in Journey for
Margaret (), O'Brien won wide praise for her quite convincing acting
style, unusual for a child of her age. By , she was considered a big
enough star to have a cameo appearance in the all-star military show
finale of Thousands Cheer. Also In , at the age of seven, Margaret
co-starred in "You, John Jones," a "War Bond/Effort," short film, with
James Cagney and Ann Sothern (playing their daughter), in which she
dramatically recited President Lincoln's "Gettysburg Address." She
played Adèle, a young French girl, and spoke and sang all her
dialogue with a French accent in Jane Eyre ().Arguably her most
memorable role was in Meet Me in St. Louis (), opposite Judy Garland.
As Tootie Smith, the feisty but fragile little sister of Judy Garland,
she was a bright point, especially in her musical numbers with Garland
and during a Halloween sequence in which she confronts a grouchy
neighbor. For her performance, she was awarded a special juvenile
Oscar in .
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