Natalie Wood In West Side Story (1961)

Natalie Wood photographed at the Paris premiere of La Chasse à l’homme in September of 1964.

Natalie Wood is photographed by Ralph Crane eating Chinese food, 1957.

Natalie Wood at the 1969 premiere of her friend Mart Crowley’s play, “the Boys in the Band.”

Natalie Wood photographed at the Cocoanut Grove Club, 1963.

“Noel Coward made a comment when they asked him what made a star. He said, ‘A star sparkles.’ And Natalie Wood sparkled.” Co-star Bob Arthaud on Natalie Wood

Happy Birthday to Natalie Wood, born Natalie Zacharenko on July 20th of 1938!

She always seemed a little tentative, a little frightened. She was sweet and lovely, and I never heard her say a bad word about anybody, but she was not a boisterously happy person. She was kind of delicate, I always felt she was vulnerable, and sensitive,- which she was. Bev Long on Natalie Wood.

Natalie Wood photographed by Bill Ray, 1963.

“Natalie spoke with Brides Magazine on set [of Kings Go Forth] and admitted that she listened only to Sinatra records in her downtime. “He’s from greatsville!” She enthused, in proto-Rat Pack speak; Natalie Wood listening to Frank Sinatra records in her “Kings Go Forth” dressing room, 1958.

“Elia Kazan assured me a double would do the scene where I was under an eight-foot waterfall. But then it turned out the double couldn’t swim at all, and I had to do it. I told Kazan: “I’ll do it only if you take me out to the waterfall and throw me in. I know I can’t swim that far, and I’m scared besides.” And that’s what they did. They threw me in, and had to get out fast before I drowned. ”

Natalie Wood by Suzanne Finstad; Natalie Wood photographed in between takes of “Splendor in the Grass,” 1960.

James Dean & Natalie Wood in Rebel Without a Cause (1955) Dir. Nicholas Ray