Maureen O’Hara, 94, gets her Oscar
Maureen O’Hara’s most recent film credit was more than a dozen years ago, but the 94-year-old actress said she’s ready for a role anytime.
“I don’t worry about going to movies,” she said. “I worry about acting in movies.”
O’Hara is among this year’s recipients of honorary Academy Awards. She’ll accept the Oscar statuette – her first – at the film academy’s Governors Awards ceremony tonight alongside fellow honorees Hayao Miyazaki, Jean-Claude Carriere and Harry Belafonte.
The Irish actress has made more than 60 films since her big-screen debut in 1938, including John Ford’s 1941 Best Picture winner, “How Green Was My Valley.” She starred opposite John Wayne in several films, including “Rio Grande,” “The Wings of Eagles,” and one of her favorites, “The Quiet Man.” Other credits include “Miracle on 34th Street” and “Sentimental Journey.”
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences established the Governors Awards in 2009 to recognize recipients of honorary Oscars. Highlights from today’s untelevised dinner ceremony will be included in the 2015 Academy Awards telecast.
‘Comeback’ return surprises Kudrow
Lisa Kudrow has no problem slipping in and out of her character Valerie Cherish when talking about the return of HBO’s “The Comeback.” (The series follows Cherish, a washed up B-list actress desperate for fame and relevance who is filming a reality TV show.)
The show aired for one season in 2004 before HBO opted to not bring it back for more episodes.
When Kudrow found out HBO was interested in bringing back the comedy, she says she was as surprised as everyone else.
“A year ago? Never would have thought,” said the actress in a recent interview.
They decided to do six episodes and pick up nine years later because the idea of continuing as if no time had passed was “ridiculous,” she said.
In the new season, Valerie has hired some USC students to shoot a pilot for a reality show that she’s going to present to Andy Cohen for Bravo. In the years that have passed, she hasn’t worked much, just guest-starred on a crime drama, participated in student films and starred in an infomercial for red hair dye.
“The Comeback” returns Sunday on HBO at 10 p.m.
The birthday bunch
Actor Norman Lloyd is 100. Actor Alain Delon is 79. Actress Virna Lisi is 78. Singer-actress Bonnie Bramlett is 70. Singer Bonnie Raitt is 65. TV personality Mary Hart is 64. Actress Alfre Woodard is 62. Singer-songwriter Rickie Lee Jones is 60. Singer-actor Leif Garrett is 53. Chef and TV personality Gordon Ramsay is 48. Actress Courtney Thorne-Smith is 47. Actress Parker Posey is 46. Singer Diana King is 44. Actress Gretchen Mol is 41. Actress Tara Reid is 39. Country singer Bucky Covington is 37. Actress Azura Skye is 33. TV personality Jack Osbourne is 29. Actress Jessica Lowndes is 26.