Natalie Wood Photographed By Allan Grant For Life Magazine, Preparing For The 1962 Academy Awards.

NATALIE WOOD’S pink party dress in SPLENDOR IN THE GRASS (1961)

“She would just hold the knife horizontally across the front of her eyes,” [a friend] recalls, “and move her face up and down so she could see everything on the blade. I thought that was rather cute.” Natalie Wood by Suzanne Finstad.

“Natalie was always in search for an older man to give her guidance in life... [Laurence] Olivier filled that role, and she adored and trusted him... Once, we all sailed to Long Beach, right past the Queen Mary... I have pictures of Olivier looking at the Queen Mary and crying. I asked, “Why are you crying?” and he said, “When Vivien Leigh came from England to meet me in Hollywood, she sailed on this boat. And this means so much to me.” Olivier said Natalie reminded him of a young Vivien, and Natalie, who had always been a big fan, asked a lot of questions about her.” as recalled by photographer and friend Michael Childers.

Excerpt from “Natalie Wood : Reflections on a Legendary Life”; Natalie Wood photographed by Ernst Haas in 1961; Vivien Leigh photographed in 1939.

“Natalie [Wood] started “Splendor” with the mingled fear and pleasure she had with “Rebel”... She would recall [Elia] Kazan encouraging her, “Don’t be afraid to make a fool of yourself,” to be bold, be free, to “shock herself.”

Natalie Wood and director Elia Kazan photographed behind the scenes of “Splendor in the Grass;” Excerpt from “Natalie Wood” by Suzanne Finstad.

Natalie Wood photographed by Earl Leaf in her Laurel Canyon home, 1957.

Natalie Wood / photo by Sam Shaw, New York City, 1961.

Natalie Wood photographed by Bill Ray, 1963.

Natalie Wood in a dance rehearsal for “West Side Story,” circa 1961. photos by Ernst Haas.

Natalie Wood photographed getting her makeup adjusted behind the scenes of “Gypsy,” 1962.

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