Natalie Wooden (born Natalie Zacharenko) started her performing profession on the age of 4.
Wooden’s mom was a Russian refugee who fled Russia to China earlier than making her option to America in 1930. Wooden’s father, was additionally from Russia, modified their household identify from Zacharenko to Gurdin a yr after Wooden’s start.
The household moved to Santa Rosa, California, in 1942, and a yr later, on the age of 4, Natalie (her final time modified to “Wooden” by movie executives) appeared for the primary time on display screen within the 1943 battle movie, The Moon is Down.
Orson Welles, after showing with Wooden in 1946 movie, Tomorrow Is Without end, described Wooden as “so good, she was terrifying,” including, “Natalie doesn’t act from the script; she acts from the center.”
Wooden landed her first massive starring position in Christmas basic, Miracle on thirty fourth Road, in 1948, and have become so widespread, she was invited to seem within the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Wooden appeared in quite a few movies and tv initiatives over the following decade, typically taking part in “daughter” roles, however on the age of 16, Wooden transitioned from youngster actor to main girl together with her position within the 1955 movie, Insurgent And not using a Trigger, reverse James Dean. Wooden signed a long-term cope with Warner Bros. to safe the half and was nominated for Finest Supporting Actress on the 1955 Academy Awards.
The next yr, Wooden graduated from highschool and started looking for extra critical roles, in lieu of the “girlfriend roles” being supplied by Warner Bros. Natalie obtained her want in 1961 when she was forged in Splendor within the Grass, reverse Warren Beatty. The movie rejuvenated Wooden’s profession, incomes her greatest actress nominations on the Academy Awards, Golden Globes, and BAFTRA Awards, proof Wooden had the stuff to be a number one girl.
Wooden was forged as Maria within the iconic movie adaptation of stage musical, West Facet Story, in 1961. Though Wooden lip-synced to the voice of Marni Nixon (who additionally sang for Deborah Kerr in The King and I and Audrey Hepburn in My Truthful Woman), Wooden was praised for her efficiency. West Facet Story was a field workplace smash and received 10 Academy awards, together with Finest Image.
Wooden landed one other musical position the next yr, starring in Gypsy with Rosalind Russell, however this time Wooden did the singing, herself. Yet one more success, Wooden was nominated for a Golden Globe for Finest Actress.
Natalie’s story positively doesn’t finish right here. Keep tuned for PART 2 later at the moment.
