Edna May Wonacott (February 6, 1932 – June 26, 2022) was an American child actress, best known for her role as Ann Newton in the 1943 movie Shadow of a Doubt. The director, Alfred Hitchcock, and film producer Jack H. Skirball handpicked the then-nine year old for the film while she was waiting for the bus.[1][2] At that time she had absolutely no experience as an actress.
Edna May Wonacott | |
|---|---|
| Born | February 6, 1932 Willits, California, U.S. |
| Died | June 26, 2022 (aged 90) Yuma, Arizona, U.S. |
| Occupation | Film actress |
| Years active | 1943–1952 |
| Spouse |
Robert Green
(m. 1951; died 2008) |
| Children | 3 |
Wonacott received a seven-year contract and Hitchcock predicted that she would become a star within a year.[3] Other than Shadow of a Doubt, she made minor (uncredited) appearances in several films, including The Bells of St. Mary's and The Model and the Marriage Broker, then retired at age 20.[4]
Personal life and death
editWonacott was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Elie Wonacott of Santa Rosa, California.[5] In 1951, she married Robert Royce Green and had three sons. As of 2010, she resided in Yuma, Arizona, under the name Edna Green.[6] She died there in June 2022, at the age of 90.[7]
Filmography
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1943 | Shadow of a Doubt | Ann Newton | |
| 1944 | Hi, Beautiful | Young Girl | Uncredited |
| 1945 | Under Western Skies | Faith | |
| 1945 | This Love of Ours | Youngster | Uncredited |
| 1945 | The Bells of St. Mary's | Delphine Ford | Uncredited |
| 1951 | Sunny Side of the Street | Bobby-Soxer | Uncredited |
| 1951 | The Model and the Marriage Broker | 2nd Miss Perry | Uncredited |
References
edit- ^ ""Want to be a star?"". The Milwaukee Sentinel. December 27, 1942. Retrieved March 19, 2014.
- ^ "Father of movie starlet enjoys booming success". The Pittsburgh Press. October 7, 1942. Retrieved March 19, 2014.
- ^ "$5,000 Production". Life. 1943-01-25. pp. 70–78.
- ^ "Filmography for Edna May Wonacott". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved August 15, 2024.
- ^ "10-Year-Old S.R. Girl Gets Chance at Role in Movies!". The Press Democrat. California, Santa Rosa. July 28, 1942. p. 1. Retrieved April 8, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Schneider, Patricia (March 14, 2010). "In the movies". Yuma Sun. pp. 41 & 44. Retrieved July 3, 2016.
- ^ Mutti-Mewse, Austin; Mutti-Mewse, Howard (24 October 2024). "R.I.P: A very belated farewell to the American child actress Edna May Wonacott, who died in June 2022, aged 90, and is best known for her role as Ann Newton, the younger sister of the films lead, played by Teresa Wright in the 1943 physiological thriller "Shadow of a Doubt" (1943), also starring Joseph Cotten". film_mewse on Instagram. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
External links
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