Hayley Mills facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Hayley Mills
Mills in 2018
Born	Hayley Catherine Rose Vivien Mills (1946-04-18) 18 April 1946 (age 79) Marylebone, London, England
Education	Elmhurst Ballet School
Occupation	Actress, singer
Years active	1958–present
Spouse(s)	Roy Boulting ​ ​ (m. 1971; div. 1977)​
Partner(s)	Leigh Lawson (1975–1984) Firdous Bamji (1997–present)
Children	2, including Crispian Mills
Parent(s)	Sir John Mills Mary Hayley Bell
Relatives	Juliet Mills (sister) Annette Mills (aunt) Susie Blake (Cousin) Mark Weedon (cousin)

Hayley Catherine Rose Vivien Mills (born 18 April 1946) is a famous English actress. She started acting when she was a child. Her parents were also actors: her father was Sir John Mills and her mother was Mary Hayley Bell. Her older sister, Juliet Mills, is also an actress.

Hayley quickly became a big star. She won a BAFTA Award for her first major film, Tiger Bay (1959). She also received a special Academy Juvenile Award for her role in Disney's Pollyanna (1960). In 1961, she won a Golden Globe Award for being a New Star of the Year.

During her early career, Hayley made six movies for Walt Disney. One of her most famous roles was playing twin sisters, Susan and Sharon, in The Parent Trap (1961). She also starred in Whistle Down the Wind (1961), a movie based on a book written by her mother. This role earned her a nomination for a BAFTA Award for Best British Actress. In 1961, she was voted the biggest star in Britain!

Later, in the 1960s, Hayley started acting in plays. She made her stage debut in a 1969 West End show called Peter Pan. She also took on more grown-up roles. Disney honored her with the Disney Legend Award for her success. Even though she isn't as famous as she was as a child, she still acts in films and on TV. Some of her later roles include The Flame Trees of Thika (1981) and Wild at Heart (2007–2012). In 2021, she wrote a book about her life called Forever Young.

Early Life and Family

Hayley Catherine Rose Vivien Mills was born on April 18, 1946. Her birthplace was Marylebone, London, England. Her father was the British actor Sir John Mills. Her mother was actress Mary Hayley Bell. Hayley has an older sister, Juliet Mills, who is also an actress. Her brother, Jonathan Mills, is a writer and producer.

Becoming a Child Star

Hayley was only 12 years old when she got her first big acting job. Director J. Lee Thompson cast her in the movie Tiger Bay (1959). Her father also starred in this film. The movie was very popular in Britain.

Working with Disney

Bill Anderson, a producer for Walt Disney, saw Tiger Bay. He suggested that Hayley play the main role in Pollyanna (1960). In this movie, she played an orphaned "glad girl" who moves in with her aunt. This role made her a huge star in the United States. She even won a special Academy Award for young actors, called the Academy Juvenile Award. She was the last person to ever win this special award. Since she couldn't be there to get her trophy, actress Annette Funicello accepted it for her.

After Pollyanna, Disney cast Hayley in The Parent Trap (1961). In this film, she played twin sisters, Sharon and Susan. They try to reunite their divorced parents. Hayley even sang a song in the movie, "Let's Get Together". She sang it as a duet with herself! The song became a hit around the world. It reached number 8 on the music charts in the US.

Hayley also made a film in Britain called Whistle Down the Wind (1961). It was based on a book by her mother, Mary Hayley Bell. The story is about children who think an escaped criminal is Jesus. This movie was very successful in Britain. In 1961, Hayley was named the biggest star in Britain.

She returned to Disney for an adventure film, In Search of the Castaways (1962). This movie was based on a book by Jules Verne. It was another popular success. For the next two years, she was voted the fifth biggest star in the country.

Her fourth movie for Disney was Summer Magic (1963). It was a musical based on the book Mother Carey's Chickens. This film was also successful. Later, she starred in The Chalk Garden (1964). She played a girl who caused trouble for her governess, played by Deborah Kerr.

Back at Disney, she made The Moon-Spinners (1964). It was a film about jewel thieves. Hayley had her first on-screen kiss in this movie with Peter McEnery. She then starred in Sky West and Crooked (1965). This film was set in the world of gypsies. Her mother wrote it, and her father directed it. Her last film with Disney was the comedy That Darn Cat! (1965). This movie did very well at the box office.

Hayley Mills, 1960

During her six years with Disney, Hayley Mills was one of the most popular child actresses. Many people thought she was America's favorite child star. Her song "Let's Get Together" was a big hit. It reached number 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. It also reached number 1 in Mexico. This led to her releasing a music album called Let's Get Together with Hayley Mills. The album also included her other hit song, "Johnny Jingo". In 1962, she was voted the most popular film actress in Britain.

In her book, Forever Young: A Memoir, Hayley shared details about her early career. She talked about turning down roles that didn't fit her Disney image. She felt that being under contract with Disney limited her. She wanted to try different kinds of roles. At age 20, she decided not to sign a new contract with Disney. She felt she was "repeating herself" with the studio. She also wrote about losing most of her earnings from Disney. This was due to a very high tax rate in England.

After Disney Films

After her time with Disney, Hayley made other movies. She starred with her father again in The Truth About Spring (1965). She also made The Trouble with Angels (1966). In this film, she played a mischievous Catholic boarding school girl. It was a very popular movie. She also lent her voice to the character of the Little Mermaid in The Daydreamer (1966).

Hayley appeared with her father and Hywel Bennett in The Family Way (1966). This movie was about a couple having trouble with their marriage. The music for the film was by Paul McCartney. Hayley started a relationship with the director, Roy Boulting. They later married in 1971. She then starred in Pretty Polly (1967). This film was shot in Singapore.

She made another movie with Roy Boulting, a thriller called Twisted Nerve (1968). She also made a comedy, Take a Girl Like You (1970). Hayley worked with Boulting again on Mr. Forbush and the Penguins (1971). In 1972, she acted with Hywel Bennett again in Endless Night. This movie was based on a book by Agatha Christie. She made two more films, What Changed Charley Farthing? (1974) and Deadly Strangers (1975). After The Kingfisher Caper in 1975, she took a break from movies for a few years.

Stage Acting Career

Hayley Mills made her first appearance on stage in 1969. It was in a London play called Peter Pan.

In 1991, she played Anna Leonowens in the Australian show of The King and I. She also toured the U.S. in the same role in 1997.

In 2000, she performed in an Off-Broadway play called Suite in Two Keys. For this role, she won a Theatre World Award. In 2001, Hayley starred in a play called "A Little Night Music" in Seattle, Washington.

In 2012, she starred in the play Ladies in Lavender. She toured the UK with this show. In 2015, she toured Australia with her sister Juliet Mills. They performed in a comedy called Legends!.

Personal Life

Hayley Mills and Firdous Bamji in 1997

In 1966, Hayley Mills met director Roy Boulting while filming The Family Way. They married in 1971. Their son, Crispian Mills, is the lead singer of the band Kula Shaker. Hayley and Roy divorced in 1977.

Hayley had a second son, Jason Lawson, in 1976. His father is actor Leigh Lawson. Hayley and Leigh separated in the early 1980s.

Since 1997, Hayley's partner has been actor and writer Firdous Bamji. They met while performing together in The King and I.

Health Journey

In April 2008, Hayley Mills was diagnosed with breast cancer. She had surgery and started chemotherapy. However, she stopped chemotherapy quickly because of the strong side effects. She believes that other treatments helped her recover. In 2012, she told Good Housekeeping magazine that she had fully recovered.

Her Memoir

Hayley Mills published a book about her life and career in September 2021. It is called Forever Young: A Memoir.

Filmography

Film

Television

Theatre Performances

Awards and Nominations

Let's Get Together with Hayley Mills Album

Let's Get Together with Hayley Mills was Hayley's only solo music album. It came out in 1962. The album included her very popular song "Let's Get Together". It also featured her other hit song, "Johnny Jingo".

Side one

1. "Jeepers Creepers" – 1:37
2. "Green and Yellow Basket" – 1:59
3. "Sentimental Sunday" – 2:04
4. "Ding Ding Ding" – 2:18
5. "Side by Side" – 1:36
6. "Cranberry Bog" – 1:50

Side two

1. "Little Boy" – 2:19
2. "Cobbler Cobbler" – 2:14
3. "Johnny Jingo" – 1:38
4. "Pollyanna Song" – 1:57
5. "Jimmie Bean" – 1:53
6. "Let's Get Together" – 1:29

See also

In Spanish: Hayley Mills para niños