Susan Hayward was born Edythe Marrener on June 30, 1917, in Brooklyn, New York. Her father worked in transportation, and Susan grew up in a comfortable household. However, she had no idea of the life that awaited her.
She attended public school in Brooklyn and graduated from a commercial high school, which aimed to provide students with marketable skills. Initially, Susan planned to become a secretary, but her plans changed when she started modeling for photographers in the NYC area.
By 1937, her beauty had reached its full bloom, and she moved to Hollywood, where she auditioned for the role of Scarlett O'Hara in Gone with the Wind. Although she lost out to Vivien Leigh, Susan continued to work in Hollywood, landing bit parts in films such as Hollywood Hotel and Beau Geste.
In 1941, she played Millie Perkins in the offbeat thriller Among the Living, showcasing her dramatic qualities for the first time. She then starred in Cecil B. DeMille's Reap the Wild Wind, playing a Southern belle, and continued to appear in films such as Jack London, And Now Tomorrow, and Deadline at Dawn.
Susan received her first Academy Award nomination for her portrayal of Angelica Evans in Smash-Up: The Story of a Woman in 1947. Although she lost to Loretta Young, she continued to be nominated for her performances in My Foolish Heart and With a Song in My Heart.
In 1955, she starred as Rachel Donaldson Robards Jackson in The President's Lady, playing the embittered wife of Andrew Jackson. Her performance as Barbara Graham in I Want to Live! in 1958 earned her the Academy Award for Best Actress, and many consider it one of the finest performances of all time.
After her Oscar win, Susan continued to appear in about one movie a year, including The Revengers in 1972. She was diagnosed with cancer and passed away on March 14, 1975, at the age of 57.
