Mia Farrow
Romanian postcard by Casa Filmului Acin.
Mia Farrow (1945) is an American actress and activist who has built a remarkable film career spanning over six decades. She had her breakthrough on TV in the series Peyton Place (1965-1966). Her films include Rosemary's Baby ( 1968), The Great Gatsby (1974) and 13 films with Woody Allen. Farrow is also celebrated for her humanitarian work.
Mia Farrow was born Maria de Lourdes Villiers Farrow in 1945, in Los Angeles, California, USA. She grew up in a privileged Hollywood household as the third child and eldest daughter of Australian film director John Farrow and Irish actress Maureen O'Sullivan, who was famous for playing Jane in the classic Tarzan films. Her childhood godparents included the famous director George Cukor and journalist Louella Parsons. At the age of nine, she contracted polio, an illness that required her to be isolated during her recovery. A few years later, her eldest brother, Michael, sadly died in a plane crash at just 19 years old. These experiences had a big impact on her. Farrow started her career as a fashion model and appeared in a few small, uncredited film roles for her father, such as in John Paul Jones (John Farrow, 1959). Her big break came in the mid-1960s when she landed the role of Allison MacKenzie in the popular American television soap opera Peyton Place (1964-1966). Her performance made her a household name in the US and established her as a rising star, known for her 'hippie' look and vulnerability. After leaving Peyton Place and her short-lived, high-profile marriage to singer Frank Sinatra in the late 1960s, Farrow focused on her film career. Her most iconic and defining role came in the psychological horror film Rosemary's Baby (Roman Polanski, 1968). In this chilling film, she played a young, pregnant woman who suspects her neighbours are part of a satanic cult. Critic Roger Ebert: "The characters and the story transcend the plot. In most horror films, and indeed in most suspense films of the Alfred Hitchcock tradition, the characters are at the mercy of the plot. In this one, they emerge as human beings actually doing these things. A great deal of the credit for this achievement must go to Mia Farrow, as Rosemary, and Ruth Gordon, as Mrs. Castevet, the next-door neighbor. Here are two of the finest performances by actresses this year." Her performance earned her a BAFTA and a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress. Throughout the 1970s, Farrow explored diverse roles in both theatre and film. She became the first American actress to join the prestigious Royal Shakespeare Company in London. Notable film appearances during this time included playing the beautiful but complex character of Daisy Buchanan in The Great Gatsby (Jack Clayton, 1974) opposite Robert Redford and a supporting role in the star-studded mystery film Death on the Nile (John Guillermin, 1978).
Mia Farrow's professional and personal life took a significant turn in the early 1980s when she began a long relationship with the writer and director Woody Allen. Over a decade, she became his muse and appeared in 13 of his films, showcasing her versatility and range. These collaborations are among her most celebrated works. Their first film together was the charming fantasy The Purple Rose of Cairo (Woody Allen, 1985), where she played a lonely waitress whose film hero steps off the screen. Critic Roger Ebert: "'Purple Rose' is delightful from beginning to end, not only because of the clarity and charm with which (Jeff) Daniels and Farrow explore the problems of their characters, but also because the movie is so intelligent. It’s not brainy or intellectual—no one in the whole movie speaks with more complexity than your average 1930s movie hero—but the movie is filled with wit and invention, and Allen trusts us to find the ironies, relish the contradictions, and figure things out for ourselves. " She also starred in the critically acclaimed comedy-drama Hannah and Her Sisters (Woody Allen, 1986), playing the central character, a dedicated, anxious woman. Other major roles in his films included Zelig (Woody Allen, 1983), a mockumentary about a man who can change his appearance to look like anyone around him; the comedy Broadway Danny Rose (Woody Allen, 1984), where she played a tough, gum-chewing mob widow; and the drama Crimes and Misdemeanors (Woody Allen, 1989). These roles solidified her reputation as one of the era's leading actresses, earning her more award nominations. The relationship with Allen ended in the early 1990s in a very public and painful scandal involving a custody battle over their children. This highly publicised period shifted some of the media's focus from her acting to her personal life and family. Beyond the screen, Farrow is perhaps even more well-known for her extensive humanitarian work. She has served as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, travelling to war zones and areas affected by poverty and disease, particularly in Africa. Her efforts in places like Darfur and Chad have drawn international attention to crises and made her one of Time magazine's most influential people in the world in 2008. Farrow has a very large family, with 14 children in total, many of whom are adopted. She raised her family primarily in New York and Connecticut. Her memoir, 'What Falls Away', published in 1997, discusses her life journey, from her Hollywood childhood and the polio ward to her marriages and her struggle to protect her children during difficult times. In recent years, Farrow has continued to act occasionally, with supporting roles in films like the Horror remake The Omen (John Moore, 2006) and the comedy Be Kind Rewind (Michel Gondry, 2008). She also returned to the stage, earning a Tony Award nomination for her performance in the play 'The Roommate' on Broadway in 2025.
Sources: Roger Ebert (Roger Ebert.com), Alexis Soloski (New York Times), Britannica, Wikipedia (English, German and Dutch) and IMDb.
And, please check out our blog European Film Star Postcards.
Mia Farrow
Romanian postcard by Casa Filmului Acin.
Mia Farrow (1945) is an American actress and activist who has built a remarkable film career spanning over six decades. She had her breakthrough on TV in the series Peyton Place (1965-1966). Her films include Rosemary's Baby ( 1968), The Great Gatsby (1974) and 13 films with Woody Allen. Farrow is also celebrated for her humanitarian work.
Mia Farrow was born Maria de Lourdes Villiers Farrow in 1945, in Los Angeles, California, USA. She grew up in a privileged Hollywood household as the third child and eldest daughter of Australian film director John Farrow and Irish actress Maureen O'Sullivan, who was famous for playing Jane in the classic Tarzan films. Her childhood godparents included the famous director George Cukor and journalist Louella Parsons. At the age of nine, she contracted polio, an illness that required her to be isolated during her recovery. A few years later, her eldest brother, Michael, sadly died in a plane crash at just 19 years old. These experiences had a big impact on her. Farrow started her career as a fashion model and appeared in a few small, uncredited film roles for her father, such as in John Paul Jones (John Farrow, 1959). Her big break came in the mid-1960s when she landed the role of Allison MacKenzie in the popular American television soap opera Peyton Place (1964-1966). Her performance made her a household name in the US and established her as a rising star, known for her 'hippie' look and vulnerability. After leaving Peyton Place and her short-lived, high-profile marriage to singer Frank Sinatra in the late 1960s, Farrow focused on her film career. Her most iconic and defining role came in the psychological horror film Rosemary's Baby (Roman Polanski, 1968). In this chilling film, she played a young, pregnant woman who suspects her neighbours are part of a satanic cult. Critic Roger Ebert: "The characters and the story transcend the plot. In most horror films, and indeed in most suspense films of the Alfred Hitchcock tradition, the characters are at the mercy of the plot. In this one, they emerge as human beings actually doing these things. A great deal of the credit for this achievement must go to Mia Farrow, as Rosemary, and Ruth Gordon, as Mrs. Castevet, the next-door neighbor. Here are two of the finest performances by actresses this year." Her performance earned her a BAFTA and a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress. Throughout the 1970s, Farrow explored diverse roles in both theatre and film. She became the first American actress to join the prestigious Royal Shakespeare Company in London. Notable film appearances during this time included playing the beautiful but complex character of Daisy Buchanan in The Great Gatsby (Jack Clayton, 1974) opposite Robert Redford and a supporting role in the star-studded mystery film Death on the Nile (John Guillermin, 1978).
Mia Farrow's professional and personal life took a significant turn in the early 1980s when she began a long relationship with the writer and director Woody Allen. Over a decade, she became his muse and appeared in 13 of his films, showcasing her versatility and range. These collaborations are among her most celebrated works. Their first film together was the charming fantasy The Purple Rose of Cairo (Woody Allen, 1985), where she played a lonely waitress whose film hero steps off the screen. Critic Roger Ebert: "'Purple Rose' is delightful from beginning to end, not only because of the clarity and charm with which (Jeff) Daniels and Farrow explore the problems of their characters, but also because the movie is so intelligent. It’s not brainy or intellectual—no one in the whole movie speaks with more complexity than your average 1930s movie hero—but the movie is filled with wit and invention, and Allen trusts us to find the ironies, relish the contradictions, and figure things out for ourselves. " She also starred in the critically acclaimed comedy-drama Hannah and Her Sisters (Woody Allen, 1986), playing the central character, a dedicated, anxious woman. Other major roles in his films included Zelig (Woody Allen, 1983), a mockumentary about a man who can change his appearance to look like anyone around him; the comedy Broadway Danny Rose (Woody Allen, 1984), where she played a tough, gum-chewing mob widow; and the drama Crimes and Misdemeanors (Woody Allen, 1989). These roles solidified her reputation as one of the era's leading actresses, earning her more award nominations. The relationship with Allen ended in the early 1990s in a very public and painful scandal involving a custody battle over their children. This highly publicised period shifted some of the media's focus from her acting to her personal life and family. Beyond the screen, Farrow is perhaps even more well-known for her extensive humanitarian work. She has served as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, travelling to war zones and areas affected by poverty and disease, particularly in Africa. Her efforts in places like Darfur and Chad have drawn international attention to crises and made her one of Time magazine's most influential people in the world in 2008. Farrow has a very large family, with 14 children in total, many of whom are adopted. She raised her family primarily in New York and Connecticut. Her memoir, 'What Falls Away', published in 1997, discusses her life journey, from her Hollywood childhood and the polio ward to her marriages and her struggle to protect her children during difficult times. In recent years, Farrow has continued to act occasionally, with supporting roles in films like the Horror remake The Omen (John Moore, 2006) and the comedy Be Kind Rewind (Michel Gondry, 2008). She also returned to the stage, earning a Tony Award nomination for her performance in the play 'The Roommate' on Broadway in 2025.
Sources: Roger Ebert (Roger Ebert.com), Alexis Soloski (New York Times), Britannica, Wikipedia (English, German and Dutch) and IMDb.
And, please check out our blog European Film Star Postcards.