Hayley Mills was a child star who worked extensively throughout the late 50s and early 60s. She is probably best known for her work in 1961’s The Parent Trap.
However, that same year she received acclaim for her role in Pollyanna. She was 14 at the time, and the academy gave her the Oscar for “the most outstanding juvenile performance during 1960”. This is an award that has not been given since.
The Oscar was presented by Shirley Temple to Annette Funicello, who was to forward it to Mills at her boarding school. Apparently, the statue was stolen in the late 80s from Mills’ London home while she was in the U.S. shooting Good Morning, Miss Bliss.
This story was told by the actress during the promotion of her new memoir, Forever Young. It must have gained some traction because this past Sunday, The Hollywood Reporter broke the news that the now 75-year old made a visit to Beverly Hills, the homeplace of the Academy. There, Academy president David Rubin replaced her oscar.
Thankfully, Mills was able to receive her well-deserved award after so many years. It’s never too late to be celebrated, so congratulations to the actress for this long-awaited feat!
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