Natalie Wood and Director Jerome Robbins Behind the Scenes, West Side Story (1961)
A while back, I watched four Natalie Wood movies within the span of two weeks. I was blown away, not only by her tremendous talent, but by the fact that she went from one of the most adorable child stars of all time to one of the most beautiful actresses of all time.
Many child stars retain a certain “child-like” look that stays with them – so much so that you tend to “see” them as children, even when they’re adults.
Maureen O’Hara and Natalie Wood, Miracle on 34th Street (1947)
Not so with Natalie Wood! She magically and effortlessly transitioned from adorable to gorgeous. It’s obvious, simply by looking at her photos, but it’s downright jaw-dropping if you watch a films like Miracle on 34th Street, Father Was a Fullback, The Searchers, and West Side Story back to back to back to back.
Natalie Wood, The Searchers (1956)