Eva Marie Saint
Academy Award-winning actress and beloved Hollywood icon.
Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons
Eva Marie Saint (born July 4, 1924) is an American retired actress whose career spanned more than seven decades. She received an Academy Award and was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award, with additional nominations for two BAFTA Awards and a Golden Globe Award.
- born
- July 4, 1924
- field
- Actress
- nationality
- American
- known_for
- Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for On the Waterfront (1954); starring role in North by Northwest (1959)
Lore & Background
Eva Marie Saint was born on July 4, 1924 in Newark, New Jersey to Quaker parents. She graduated from Bowling Green State University in 1946, where she studied acting and joined the Delta Gamma sorority. Her early career began as a television and radio actress in the late 1940s, including work as an NBC page and appearances on live shows such as Campus Hoopla. She earned a Theatre World Award for her role in Horton Foote's The Trip to Bountiful (1953).
Saint made her film debut in Elia Kazan's On the Waterfront (1954) opposite Marlon Brando, winning the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. She later starred as Eve Kendall in Alfred Hitchcock's North by Northwest (1959), a landmark thriller. In the 1960s, she appeared in films such as Exodus (1960), The Sandpiper, 36 Hours, The Russians Are Coming the Russians Are Coming, and Grand Prix (1966). From the 1970s onward, she worked primarily in television and on stage, earning a Primetime Emmy nomination for the TV film People Like Us (1990). Her most recent theatrical film appearance was in Winter's Tale (2014).
Reader's Guide
Eva Marie Saint's significance lies in her enduring career as a bridge between the Golden Age of Hollywood and modern television. Her Academy Award-winning performance in On the Waterfront established her as a dramatic actress of note, while her role in North by Northwest showcased her versatility in a suspense classic. Saint's decision to limit film work to raise a family did not diminish her impact; she continued to earn critical acclaim in television, winning a Primetime Emmy Award. As the earliest surviving and oldest living Academy Award winner, she represents a living link to Hollywood's mid-20th-century peak. Her two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame reflect contributions to both motion pictures and television. Saint's legacy is that of a respected performer who navigated the transition from studio-era films to independent productions and television, maintaining relevance across decades.
Did You Know?
- She received $7,500 for her role in On the Waterfront.
- A theater on the campus of Bowling Green State University is named after her.
- She was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for the TV film People Like Us (1990).
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Eva Marie Saint?
She is an American actress born on July 4, 1924, whose professional work in theater and film stretched across more than seven decades. Fans and critics alike regard her as a beloved Hollywood icon of the classic era.
What is Eva Marie Saint most famous for?
Her Oscar-winning supporting role in the 1954 drama On the Waterfront is her most celebrated screen credit. She is equally remembered for starring as Eve Kendall in Alfred Hitchcock's 1959 thriller North by Northwest.
What major awards has Eva Marie Saint received?
She won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for On the Waterfront. Beyond that, she earned a Primetime Emmy nomination, two BAFTA nominations, and a Golden Globe nomination over the course of her career.
What is Eva Marie Saint's most iconic role?
Her leading performance as Eve Kendall in North by Northwest (1959) is widely considered her signature screen role. The part established her as a major leading lady of mid-century Hollywood cinema.
How long did Eva Marie Saint's acting career span?
Her work in stage and film lasted more than seven decades, making it one of the longest-running careers in American entertainment. She has since retired from performing.
More in Stage And Screen Actresses 1-24
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