Virginia Mayo

Virginia Mayo (Virginia Clara Jones: November 30, 1920 – January 17, 2005) was an American actress.

She was born in Saint Louis, Missouri. Her father was a journalist and came from a family that had been very influential in the city of St. Louis. As a child, Mayo already showed an interest in show business. Her aunt ran a dance school, and Mayo began taking classes at the age of six. After she finished school in 1937, she became a performer with the St. Louis Opera.

During a Broadway performance by Mayo, an agent from Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer saw her, and Samuel Goldwyn signed a contract with her. However, when one of the studio's directors held screen tests, he said Mayo was not a suitable actress for film. Goldwyn did believe in her, especially in her acting talent, and gave her a small role in Jack London (1943, Alfred Santell). That same year she appeared in another film, and the producers recognized her physical appeal, which justified more important roles. Thus, by 1944 she had a leading role in The Princess and the Pirate (“La princesa y el pirata” / David Butler), a musical comedy in which she shared top billing with Bob Hope.

In the following years, Mayo appeared in films with well-known co-stars such as Danny Kaye, Dana Andrews, James Cagney, Burt Lancaster and Gregory Peck, and her popularity grew with each film she appeared in (“The Best Years of Our Lives,” “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty,” “White Heat,” “The Adventures of Robin Hood”).

She worked intensely until the late 50s, after which she made fewer films, a total of eight over twenty years. Used to appearing glamorous on screen, Mayo wanted to be selective about the roles she took once she reached a certain age.

Mayo was married between 1947 and 1973, the year her husband died. They had one daughter from this marriage.

She died at the age of 84 after a long bout of pneumonia that ended in cardiac arrest, at a care home in Los Angeles.