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Forever Young: A Memoir
Iconic actress Hayley Mills shares personal memories from her storied childhood, growing up in a famous acting family and becoming a Disney child star, trying to grow up in a world that wanted her to stay forever young.
\x26#160;
The daughter of acclaimed British actor Sir John Mills was still a preteen when she began her acting career and was quickly thrust into the spotlight. Under the wing of Walt Disney himself, Hayley Mills was transformed into one of the biggest child starlets of the 1960s through her iconic roles in Pollyanna, The Parent Trap, and many more. She became one of only twelve actors in history to be bestowed with the Academy Juvenile Award, presented at the Oscars by its first recipient, Shirley Temple, and went on to win a number of awards including a Golden Globe, multiple BAFTAs, and a Disney Legacy Award.
Now, in her charming and forthright memoir, she provides a unique window into when Hollywood was still \x26#39;Tinseltown\x26#39; and the great Walt Disney was at his zenith, ruling over what was (at least in his own head) still a family business. This behind\-the\-scenes look at the drama of having a sky\-rocketing career as a young teen in an esteemed acting family will offer both her childhood impressions of the wild and glamorous world she was swept into, and the wisdom and broader knowledge that time has given her. Hayley will delve intimately into her relationship with Walt Disney, as well as the emotional challenges of being bound to a wholesome, youthful public image as she grew into her later teen years, and how that impacted her and her choices\-\-including marrying a producer over 30 years her senior when she was 20! With her regrets, her joys, her difficulties, and her triumphs, this is a compelling read for any fan of classic Disney films and an inside look at a piece of real Hollywood history.
\x26#160;
The daughter of acclaimed British actor Sir John Mills was still a preteen when she began her acting career and was quickly thrust into the spotlight. Under the wing of Walt Disney himself, Hayley Mills was transformed into one of the biggest child starlets of the 1960s through her iconic roles in Pollyanna, The Parent Trap, and many more. She became one of only twelve actors in history to be bestowed with the Academy Juvenile Award, presented at the Oscars by its first recipient, Shirley Temple, and went on to win a number of awards including a Golden Globe, multiple BAFTAs, and a Disney Legacy Award.
Now, in her charming and forthright memoir, she provides a unique window into when Hollywood was still \x26#39;Tinseltown\x26#39; and the great Walt Disney was at his zenith, ruling over what was (at least in his own head) still a family business. This behind\-the\-scenes look at the drama of having a sky\-rocketing career as a young teen in an esteemed acting family will offer both her childhood impressions of the wild and glamorous world she was swept into, and the wisdom and broader knowledge that time has given her. Hayley will delve intimately into her relationship with Walt Disney, as well as the emotional challenges of being bound to a wholesome, youthful public image as she grew into her later teen years, and how that impacted her and her choices\-\-including marrying a producer over 30 years her senior when she was 20! With her regrets, her joys, her difficulties, and her triumphs, this is a compelling read for any fan of classic Disney films and an inside look at a piece of real Hollywood history.
1 pages, Audio CD
First published September 2, 2021
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November 15, 2021
Forever Young by Hayley Mills is a 2021 Grand Central Publication.
Hayley Mills came from a family of actors and grew up, rubbing elbows with her parent’s friends and colleagues- like Vivien Leigh and Laurence Olivier, for example.
While her older sister did some stage acting, when Hayley was growing up, acting never really crossed her mind. In fact, she was pretty much a normal kid, doing normal kid things- and was a bit of a tomboy. In what was more a fluke, than anything else, she was cast in one movie, but that appeared to be a one-off thing, which was fine with her, until she caught the eye of Walt Disney… and the rest- as they say is history.
I was a huge fan of "Pollyanna". The cast was stellar and of course Hayley personified that role. I’m hazy on some of the other movies she did for Disney, except for “The Parent Trap” and her last one- ‘That Darn Cat’.
I hate to admit this, but once I had outgrown Disney movies, I never thought about Hayley again until I had children of my own, and I found myself re-watching some of her Disney films.
There is only one post- Disney movie that sticks in my mind now- “The Trouble with Angels”.
I didn’t know one thing about her personally, except her father was in ‘Swiss Family Robinson’ and I’d seen a few of her sister’s movies over the years.
In some ways, Hayley appeared to live a charmed life while growing up, but of course, there were issues. Still, she approaches the darker side of fame and her tough experiences candidly, without sounding embittered, excepting some resentful sounding passages about her alcoholic mother.
Many of Hayley’s experiences sound so typical of Hollywood and the pressure that is placed on young performers, which takes its toll on their health.
Hayley stayed in line a lot longer than most before finally going a little wild. A chance at playing 'Lolita', a controversial marriage to a much older man, and a religious epiphany, are among some of the surprises in the book, I knew nothing about. Her juxtapositions about losing that role, feeling pigeonholed as a Disney star, with Sue Lyons- who got the part - was interesting… and true.
The book trails off when Hayley is pregnant with her first child- which might have been by design as the book’s intent was to focus on her life up until she is firmly cemented into adulthood- a plateau she struggled to obtain after her childhood was immortalized on film for many generations.
Hayley’s life has encompassed so much more than what is etched in our childhood memories of her, but she is for many of us, despite all her efforts to be otherwise…
Forever young.
Hayley Mills came from a family of actors and grew up, rubbing elbows with her parent’s friends and colleagues- like Vivien Leigh and Laurence Olivier, for example.
While her older sister did some stage acting, when Hayley was growing up, acting never really crossed her mind. In fact, she was pretty much a normal kid, doing normal kid things- and was a bit of a tomboy. In what was more a fluke, than anything else, she was cast in one movie, but that appeared to be a one-off thing, which was fine with her, until she caught the eye of Walt Disney… and the rest- as they say is history.
I was a huge fan of "Pollyanna". The cast was stellar and of course Hayley personified that role. I’m hazy on some of the other movies she did for Disney, except for “The Parent Trap” and her last one- ‘That Darn Cat’.
I hate to admit this, but once I had outgrown Disney movies, I never thought about Hayley again until I had children of my own, and I found myself re-watching some of her Disney films.
There is only one post- Disney movie that sticks in my mind now- “The Trouble with Angels”.
I didn’t know one thing about her personally, except her father was in ‘Swiss Family Robinson’ and I’d seen a few of her sister’s movies over the years.
In some ways, Hayley appeared to live a charmed life while growing up, but of course, there were issues. Still, she approaches the darker side of fame and her tough experiences candidly, without sounding embittered, excepting some resentful sounding passages about her alcoholic mother.
Many of Hayley’s experiences sound so typical of Hollywood and the pressure that is placed on young performers, which takes its toll on their health.
Hayley stayed in line a lot longer than most before finally going a little wild. A chance at playing 'Lolita', a controversial marriage to a much older man, and a religious epiphany, are among some of the surprises in the book, I knew nothing about. Her juxtapositions about losing that role, feeling pigeonholed as a Disney star, with Sue Lyons- who got the part - was interesting… and true.
The book trails off when Hayley is pregnant with her first child- which might have been by design as the book’s intent was to focus on her life up until she is firmly cemented into adulthood- a plateau she struggled to obtain after her childhood was immortalized on film for many generations.
Hayley’s life has encompassed so much more than what is etched in our childhood memories of her, but she is for many of us, despite all her efforts to be otherwise…
Forever young.
July 26, 2021
A solid celebrity/Hollywood memoir, if limited in scope. And it IS limited in scope--read if you're a fan of Hayley Mills' childhood/classic career and would like a view into that period of her life. From that perspective, I did enjoy it. However, the memoir cuts off at the point Hayley has her first child... which is in the late 70s! So you don't get the last 40 years of her life. Which, ya know, does she owe us every single spec of her life? No, but I was a bit surprised. I had been looking forward to that part--it sounds silly but because I was born in the 80s and came up with early Disney Channel subculture (I didn't have cable but I still knew the shows!), I was really hoping to hear about Good Morning Miss Bliss and The Parent Trap 2. Maybe even her perspective on seeing The Parent Trap remade for a new generation.
That said, Mills' is a lovely writer--perhaps why I wanted to read more? No surprise her mother was a writer, and a bit of a surprise Hayley's never had a go at it before this with a novel or something. I was impressed at points, especially her journals when she was younger. Her maturity and imagination come through.
And overall, it's lovely to spend time with her--she's very obviously a kind, lovely person. She has nothing but nice things to say about pretty much everyone, except for one actor she's very honest about being a misogynist. She also grew up surrounded by some seriously famous people (not just her dad) and it's kind of a trip to read her casually name-dropping "Uncle Dickie" (Richard Attenborough) or Larry and Joan--Sir Laurence Olivier and Joan Plowright (and Vivien Leigh also gets a mention). She also speaks lovingly though realistically about Walt Disney--I liked how she recognized he was absolutely warm and wonderful on a personal level, but also a shrewd businessman. You also get insights into her parents and how she grew up--I wasn't super familiar with her parents, but I'm sure Brits will find it all pretty fascinating.
A solid memoir to get a snippet of a bit of Old Hollywood (as it was fading in the 60s) and a childhood icon. I have a soft spot for Hayley Mills--I've always loved her! The one sadness for me is she keeps calling herself fat, and she does briefly acknowledge she had an eating disorder at the time, but like lord. She was never fat! Hayley was always gorgeous. I hate that she was made to feel that way :(
That said, Mills' is a lovely writer--perhaps why I wanted to read more? No surprise her mother was a writer, and a bit of a surprise Hayley's never had a go at it before this with a novel or something. I was impressed at points, especially her journals when she was younger. Her maturity and imagination come through.
And overall, it's lovely to spend time with her--she's very obviously a kind, lovely person. She has nothing but nice things to say about pretty much everyone, except for one actor she's very honest about being a misogynist. She also grew up surrounded by some seriously famous people (not just her dad) and it's kind of a trip to read her casually name-dropping "Uncle Dickie" (Richard Attenborough) or Larry and Joan--Sir Laurence Olivier and Joan Plowright (and Vivien Leigh also gets a mention). She also speaks lovingly though realistically about Walt Disney--I liked how she recognized he was absolutely warm and wonderful on a personal level, but also a shrewd businessman. You also get insights into her parents and how she grew up--I wasn't super familiar with her parents, but I'm sure Brits will find it all pretty fascinating.
A solid memoir to get a snippet of a bit of Old Hollywood (as it was fading in the 60s) and a childhood icon. I have a soft spot for Hayley Mills--I've always loved her! The one sadness for me is she keeps calling herself fat, and she does briefly acknowledge she had an eating disorder at the time, but like lord. She was never fat! Hayley was always gorgeous. I hate that she was made to feel that way :(
November 15, 2021
Audiobook…read by Haley Mills
…..16 hours and 16 minute TOO LONG….
This is a good time as any for me to practice writing a mini-length review….
There were plenty of parts I enjoyed in Haley’s memoir, but towards the end I was ‘spent’ (over it!)
Like thousands of other nine-year-old girls of my generation….
Haley Mills was our childhood movie-star icon. I saw both ‘Pollyanna’ and ‘The Parent Trap’ a half dozen times each.
Childhood- movie- star- Haley Mills had a subtle and powerful influence on many of us - ‘pre-teen’ girls…including comfort from loneliness….
The 50 cents (movie-theater fee on Saturday mornings in Oakland) … was great entertainment value.
I think I went about five Saturdays in a row to sit in the dark - alone - as a child to watch Haley.
For that… my nine-year-old self is grateful.
As an adult….listening to this audiobook- on and on —
an ‘ON’ eventually just wore me down.
WAY too much details about people I had zero familiarity and connection with.
My ‘very’ favorite parts — were learning more about Walt Disney -himself…..
and the process of making those amazing costumes for
Pollyanna.
As the famous saying goes…..
“I liked it, but “I didn’t love it”!
However,
…..regardless of the length and the flaws….
this memoir resonated with my heart…..
with an overall respect for Haley’s life journey, her self-reflection, and examination wholeheartedly.
3.5-3-7… rating up to 4stars of general humanitarian love!
…..16 hours and 16 minute TOO LONG….
This is a good time as any for me to practice writing a mini-length review….
There were plenty of parts I enjoyed in Haley’s memoir, but towards the end I was ‘spent’ (over it!)
Like thousands of other nine-year-old girls of my generation….
Haley Mills was our childhood movie-star icon. I saw both ‘Pollyanna’ and ‘The Parent Trap’ a half dozen times each.
Childhood- movie- star- Haley Mills had a subtle and powerful influence on many of us - ‘pre-teen’ girls…including comfort from loneliness….
The 50 cents (movie-theater fee on Saturday mornings in Oakland) … was great entertainment value.
I think I went about five Saturdays in a row to sit in the dark - alone - as a child to watch Haley.
For that… my nine-year-old self is grateful.
As an adult….listening to this audiobook- on and on —
an ‘ON’ eventually just wore me down.
WAY too much details about people I had zero familiarity and connection with.
My ‘very’ favorite parts — were learning more about Walt Disney -himself…..
and the process of making those amazing costumes for
Pollyanna.
As the famous saying goes…..
“I liked it, but “I didn’t love it”!
However,
…..regardless of the length and the flaws….
this memoir resonated with my heart…..
with an overall respect for Haley’s life journey, her self-reflection, and examination wholeheartedly.
3.5-3-7… rating up to 4stars of general humanitarian love!
September 15, 2021
The primary understanding that the Reader must have before beginning this book is that it does not contain everything you’ve ever wanted to know about Hayley Mills. There are gaps … sometimes significant gaps. Possibly the most notable example of this is when she leaves her husband to form a new life, and a second child appears. Who is the father of the child? Who did she meet? There is no mention within the main body of the book.
Her film work after leaving her husband is curiously absent. So, if you are curious about her return to Disney (for THE PARENT TRAP revisits) or the popular mini-series, THE FLAME TREES OF THIKA, you’ll need to hope for further memoirs. (I was immensely curious as to what prompted her to agree to appear topless in DEADLY STRANGERS. This film was made during the period covered in the book, but it isn’t referenced at all. Of course, from her other comments throughout the book, it is fairly easy to piece the answer together.)
Virtually the first two-thirds of FOREVER YOUNG: A MEMOIR covers her childhood through her teenage years. This includes her association with the famous Disney films. If this had been any other collection of memoirs, spending so much time on such an early period of life would be met with resentment. But, let’s face it. The Disney years were the ones that introduced most of us to Hayley Mills and kindled our fascination and affection for her.
Among the strengths of the book are her details about what was going through her mind as she was growing up before our eyes, and delightful peeks “on the set” of many of these films. It is an “insider story” that only she could tell with excerpts from a journal she kept, along with granted access to the Disney archives (providing her with “behind-the-scenes” information she hadn’t previously known). All of this is told in an easy conversational style that makes the narrative flow. I can honestly say that I looked forward to each new reading session and my next “visit” with her.
In addition, she had close associations with many famous and noteworthy people. (Her “date” with George Harrison during the height of The Beatles craze was quite a trip!) Walt Disney, Vivian Leigh, Laurence Olivier, Richard Attenborough and, naturally, John Mills are just a sampling of the luminaries presented in these pages.
There are also the jaw-dropping revelations. I’ll save the bulk of them for future Readers. But, I can’t help revealing that she had been sought-after for the title role in Stanley Kubrick’s LOLITA. Now, there is a “What if?” that boggles the mind! And there are the “minor” revelations that I greatly appreciated, such as the one early on that Hayley is actually “a boy’s name.”
A generous collection of photographs is also provided. It was quite a treat to wander through them.
FOREVER YOUNG: A MEMOIR left me wanting more, yet grateful for what had been shared. I do think it will be much more appreciated by her fans (and fans of Walt Disney) than by the casual Reader who is experiencing a first encounter with Hayley Mills. If she writes another set of memoirs, I’ll be there for those, too.
Her film work after leaving her husband is curiously absent. So, if you are curious about her return to Disney (for THE PARENT TRAP revisits) or the popular mini-series, THE FLAME TREES OF THIKA, you’ll need to hope for further memoirs. (I was immensely curious as to what prompted her to agree to appear topless in DEADLY STRANGERS. This film was made during the period covered in the book, but it isn’t referenced at all. Of course, from her other comments throughout the book, it is fairly easy to piece the answer together.)
Virtually the first two-thirds of FOREVER YOUNG: A MEMOIR covers her childhood through her teenage years. This includes her association with the famous Disney films. If this had been any other collection of memoirs, spending so much time on such an early period of life would be met with resentment. But, let’s face it. The Disney years were the ones that introduced most of us to Hayley Mills and kindled our fascination and affection for her.
Among the strengths of the book are her details about what was going through her mind as she was growing up before our eyes, and delightful peeks “on the set” of many of these films. It is an “insider story” that only she could tell with excerpts from a journal she kept, along with granted access to the Disney archives (providing her with “behind-the-scenes” information she hadn’t previously known). All of this is told in an easy conversational style that makes the narrative flow. I can honestly say that I looked forward to each new reading session and my next “visit” with her.
In addition, she had close associations with many famous and noteworthy people. (Her “date” with George Harrison during the height of The Beatles craze was quite a trip!) Walt Disney, Vivian Leigh, Laurence Olivier, Richard Attenborough and, naturally, John Mills are just a sampling of the luminaries presented in these pages.
There are also the jaw-dropping revelations. I’ll save the bulk of them for future Readers. But, I can’t help revealing that she had been sought-after for the title role in Stanley Kubrick’s LOLITA. Now, there is a “What if?” that boggles the mind! And there are the “minor” revelations that I greatly appreciated, such as the one early on that Hayley is actually “a boy’s name.”
A generous collection of photographs is also provided. It was quite a treat to wander through them.
FOREVER YOUNG: A MEMOIR left me wanting more, yet grateful for what had been shared. I do think it will be much more appreciated by her fans (and fans of Walt Disney) than by the casual Reader who is experiencing a first encounter with Hayley Mills. If she writes another set of memoirs, I’ll be there for those, too.
October 5, 2021
I love celebrity memoirs and The Parent Trap was one of my favorite movies to watch as a kid. So it was basically a no brainer I would pick up Hayley Mills' book detailing her life as a child star. It turned out to be a pretty interesting read and I'm relieved she comes across as humble and down to earth.
Hayley is the daughter of the late actor, John Mills, and the younger sister of actress Juliet Mills. She attended boarding schools and interacted with her parents' famous friends but despite that she doesn't have a sense of entitlement. Not even after she shot to fame when she starred in a bunch of Disney films like Pollyanna and In Search of the Castaways. Her life hasn't been all sunshine and roses though. Her mother was an alcoholic back in a time when such matters weren't really talked about much. Haley also endured a lengthy court battle to retain the earnings she made as a child actress.
I enjoyed learning about her family life as well as her career. My only gripe about the book is the last 40 some years of her life barely gets a mention in her memoir. The book pretty much ends once she becomes a mother. A huge portion of her life isn't really covered and that was disappointing.
Overall, it still is a good read and I would recommend it to fans of the actress.
Hayley is the daughter of the late actor, John Mills, and the younger sister of actress Juliet Mills. She attended boarding schools and interacted with her parents' famous friends but despite that she doesn't have a sense of entitlement. Not even after she shot to fame when she starred in a bunch of Disney films like Pollyanna and In Search of the Castaways. Her life hasn't been all sunshine and roses though. Her mother was an alcoholic back in a time when such matters weren't really talked about much. Haley also endured a lengthy court battle to retain the earnings she made as a child actress.
I enjoyed learning about her family life as well as her career. My only gripe about the book is the last 40 some years of her life barely gets a mention in her memoir. The book pretty much ends once she becomes a mother. A huge portion of her life isn't really covered and that was disappointing.
Overall, it still is a good read and I would recommend it to fans of the actress.
August 15, 2021
Childhood wouldn’t have been so golden without such films as Pollyanna, The Parent Trap, and That Darn Cat and then there was that clever, atmospheric Endless Night that gave me some good chills as a teen. So, when I spotted the memoir of the sunny-faced actress that made these and other gems possible, I was jazzed to pick it up and delve right in.
Hayley Mills came of an acting father and a script-writing mother, a thespian older sister, film-making younger brother, and surrounded by daddy and mummy’s close friends in the trade. Unlike her sister, Juliet, Hayley hadn’t had any particular plans to get into acting until one of her father’s acquaintances spotted her and decided she was perfect for the main child actor part in British film, Tiger Bay. Even then she thought it was simply a lark and went back boarding school and life on the family farm without a backward glance. Hayley is the middle child and happy to let life happen around her. Her parents gave her and her siblings a stable, loving childhood though Hayley points out that their relationship and their work were priorities that she registered even as a young child. Tiger Bay was well received and was the vehicle that got her in Walt Disney’s eye.
Disney wanted her for Pollyanna, but insisted on signing her to a six-film contract over the next seven years. Her parents were ambivalent about that on her behalf because it would lock her into a career that would take up the rest of her childhood, but they consulted Hayley after making it clear what would be involved. Eventually, she was making movie magic, dealing with adolescence, the woes of fitting school around an acting career, fame, and how it affected family life especially with her dad’s film career tugging the family in two different directions. Hayley grew up on and off screen, but found that living up to peoples’ ideals and her own made for a big challenge and finding her feet as an adult and an acting career as well as adult relationships would be hardest of all.
This memoir hit the spot for me. Mostly, this is because I went in wanting the life of a child actress with enough personal and family background to set it in context. I didn’t read it to get a deep dive into another person’s life. Hayley was forthright about her family, her personality, her struggles, and her own choices that sometimes led to mistakes, but the memoir winds up when the child actress feels that she has finally finished with childhood and has a strong foothold on the path of adulthood with a relationship and a child as well as an adult career. Some might want to know what happened in the intervening years to the present, but that was not addressed and, I honestly didn’t expect it based on the title and blurb, but I thought I should mention it in case other’s do.
It was enough to learn what such a life was like: behind the scenes on some films including her Disney ones, the rarified atmosphere she was in when she thought of Lawrence Olivier and Vivian Leigh as Uncle Larry and Aunt Vivian, when she was friendly with the Beatles including a date with George and went to the same parties as The Rat Pack, and some of her struggles that she had to overcome like feeling less educated than others since she never finished school, weight struggles, shyness and inadequacy, a mother’s depression and alcoholism, loss of her childhood earnings, and struggles of failed relationships.
The author’s writing style took just the right tone. It was engaging and in balance with her personality and her experiences. There was some fun, some sad, and much in between. The end wrapped up swiftly, but in a logical place. I felt I learned a lot about Hayley Mills as a person and an actress so I was well-pleased with this memoir and would definitely recommend it to those who enjoy memoires of entertainment personalities or simply want to read about Hailey Mills growing up.
I rec’d an e-ARC of this book from Net Galley to read in exchange for an honest review.
Hayley Mills came of an acting father and a script-writing mother, a thespian older sister, film-making younger brother, and surrounded by daddy and mummy’s close friends in the trade. Unlike her sister, Juliet, Hayley hadn’t had any particular plans to get into acting until one of her father’s acquaintances spotted her and decided she was perfect for the main child actor part in British film, Tiger Bay. Even then she thought it was simply a lark and went back boarding school and life on the family farm without a backward glance. Hayley is the middle child and happy to let life happen around her. Her parents gave her and her siblings a stable, loving childhood though Hayley points out that their relationship and their work were priorities that she registered even as a young child. Tiger Bay was well received and was the vehicle that got her in Walt Disney’s eye.
Disney wanted her for Pollyanna, but insisted on signing her to a six-film contract over the next seven years. Her parents were ambivalent about that on her behalf because it would lock her into a career that would take up the rest of her childhood, but they consulted Hayley after making it clear what would be involved. Eventually, she was making movie magic, dealing with adolescence, the woes of fitting school around an acting career, fame, and how it affected family life especially with her dad’s film career tugging the family in two different directions. Hayley grew up on and off screen, but found that living up to peoples’ ideals and her own made for a big challenge and finding her feet as an adult and an acting career as well as adult relationships would be hardest of all.
This memoir hit the spot for me. Mostly, this is because I went in wanting the life of a child actress with enough personal and family background to set it in context. I didn’t read it to get a deep dive into another person’s life. Hayley was forthright about her family, her personality, her struggles, and her own choices that sometimes led to mistakes, but the memoir winds up when the child actress feels that she has finally finished with childhood and has a strong foothold on the path of adulthood with a relationship and a child as well as an adult career. Some might want to know what happened in the intervening years to the present, but that was not addressed and, I honestly didn’t expect it based on the title and blurb, but I thought I should mention it in case other’s do.
It was enough to learn what such a life was like: behind the scenes on some films including her Disney ones, the rarified atmosphere she was in when she thought of Lawrence Olivier and Vivian Leigh as Uncle Larry and Aunt Vivian, when she was friendly with the Beatles including a date with George and went to the same parties as The Rat Pack, and some of her struggles that she had to overcome like feeling less educated than others since she never finished school, weight struggles, shyness and inadequacy, a mother’s depression and alcoholism, loss of her childhood earnings, and struggles of failed relationships.
The author’s writing style took just the right tone. It was engaging and in balance with her personality and her experiences. There was some fun, some sad, and much in between. The end wrapped up swiftly, but in a logical place. I felt I learned a lot about Hayley Mills as a person and an actress so I was well-pleased with this memoir and would definitely recommend it to those who enjoy memoires of entertainment personalities or simply want to read about Hailey Mills growing up.
I rec’d an e-ARC of this book from Net Galley to read in exchange for an honest review.
September 23, 2021
4 Stars
Hayley Mills has been a favorite since I was a little girl watching her films on The Wonderful World of Disney TV show in the late 1970s. It makes me happy to know that, after some struggles, she was happy in her life and didn't end up destroyed like so many other child stars. There are some great stories here about her life in Hollywood and London and I loved her encounters with famous people of the day.
Hayley Mills has been a favorite since I was a little girl watching her films on The Wonderful World of Disney TV show in the late 1970s. It makes me happy to know that, after some struggles, she was happy in her life and didn't end up destroyed like so many other child stars. There are some great stories here about her life in Hollywood and London and I loved her encounters with famous people of the day.
October 22, 2021
I enjoyed reading this Memoir – to a point – Ms. Mills seems to have left the reader somewhere in the middle of her life in the 1970’s.
Ms. Mills began her acting career with Walt Disney before she was even a teenager. While she has only fond memories of Walt Disney the book shows how confusing and debilitating it is for a pre-teen to be thrust into the spotlight. It’s all rather sad and no wonder so many of them end up in such a bad way seemingly unable to cope with the realities of a real life.
Hayley Mills will forever be “Pollyanna” in my mind and it would seem the Pollyanna theme has stuck with her throughout her entire ‘real’ life.
It amuses me to find reviewers of theatrical memoirs complain about ‘name dropping’. Hayley Mills is an actor (as was her father) and has been her entire life. Who did you think she was going to talk about? However, if you’re looking for nasty Hollywood gossip you won’t find it here.
Ms. Mills began her acting career with Walt Disney before she was even a teenager. While she has only fond memories of Walt Disney the book shows how confusing and debilitating it is for a pre-teen to be thrust into the spotlight. It’s all rather sad and no wonder so many of them end up in such a bad way seemingly unable to cope with the realities of a real life.
Hayley Mills will forever be “Pollyanna” in my mind and it would seem the Pollyanna theme has stuck with her throughout her entire ‘real’ life.
It amuses me to find reviewers of theatrical memoirs complain about ‘name dropping’. Hayley Mills is an actor (as was her father) and has been her entire life. Who did you think she was going to talk about? However, if you’re looking for nasty Hollywood gossip you won’t find it here.
September 21, 2021
Hayley Mills was not an ill-used child star. She was not an unhappy child. She was not sexualized prematurely. She wasn't #metoo'd be anyone. It's a rather nice story to hear nowadays.
Protected by Walt Disney, who kinda owned her but ehhh...it was a different time, and living in England (not Hollywood) where her father was a respected actor, she had a humble life with very little scandal. She holds no ill-will toward anyone. Well...maybe Britain's Homeland Revenue that taxed her acting trust at...92%? I think? (The government took almost every dime she made from age 13-18, her most prolific years). That's just about the only villainy in her story. She's not even upset at that burglar who kept breaking into the house in her teens and stealing her underpants.
She certainly holds no ill will against a slightly self-involved mother and father. She's mildly irritated at the man 30 years her senior that she married, but not any more than she's irritated at herself for marrying him.
She narrates her stumble into super-stardom with such passivity. Acting? Yes all right I'll do that. No, whatever you wish to cast me in, I shan't make a fuss. All's well. Chin up and all that.
We fell in love with her as a kid cuz she was so genuine...and ironically, I don't think it was an act. (Which may be why her talents didn't translate so well to adulthood and the self-awareness that comes with it).
This isn't a story of struggle and passion. Tut-tut no. Let's not get all dramatic about things! The 70+ lady telling us about growing up between boarding school, fancy dinner parties for her parent's erudite contemporaries, and a few fun run-ins with the Beatles (but not Elvis...she's still sore about that...her double on Parent Trap actually DATED Elvis and all Hayley got was a stupid Star of Fame on Hollywood Blvd. ELVIS!) is just as gentle and cheerful as Pollyanna ever was.
Protected by Walt Disney, who kinda owned her but ehhh...it was a different time, and living in England (not Hollywood) where her father was a respected actor, she had a humble life with very little scandal. She holds no ill-will toward anyone. Well...maybe Britain's Homeland Revenue that taxed her acting trust at...92%? I think? (The government took almost every dime she made from age 13-18, her most prolific years). That's just about the only villainy in her story. She's not even upset at that burglar who kept breaking into the house in her teens and stealing her underpants.
She certainly holds no ill will against a slightly self-involved mother and father. She's mildly irritated at the man 30 years her senior that she married, but not any more than she's irritated at herself for marrying him.
She narrates her stumble into super-stardom with such passivity. Acting? Yes all right I'll do that. No, whatever you wish to cast me in, I shan't make a fuss. All's well. Chin up and all that.
We fell in love with her as a kid cuz she was so genuine...and ironically, I don't think it was an act. (Which may be why her talents didn't translate so well to adulthood and the self-awareness that comes with it).
This isn't a story of struggle and passion. Tut-tut no. Let's not get all dramatic about things! The 70+ lady telling us about growing up between boarding school, fancy dinner parties for her parent's erudite contemporaries, and a few fun run-ins with the Beatles (but not Elvis...she's still sore about that...her double on Parent Trap actually DATED Elvis and all Hayley got was a stupid Star of Fame on Hollywood Blvd. ELVIS!) is just as gentle and cheerful as Pollyanna ever was.
October 27, 2021
Hayley Mills movies have been my comfort watch for many years. Pollyanna, Parent Trap, The Moonspinners, and Summer Magic. The Truth About Spring and The Castaways were favorites of my childhood as well. I think of her with a great deal of fondness. Even gratitude. This book did not change my feelings. When I was over halfway through the book, I couldn’t help it. I paused in my reading and looked at both The Moonspinners and Pollyanna.
Because John Mills and his wife were so popular and respected among their peers, the book is chock-full of references about the leading lights of British Stage and film. Many many were not just casual acquaintances but good friends. And because their family was so solid, Hayley was right there.
Her films, even the later non-Disney ones, were full of the famous and revered. Famous not to everyone, but to those of my age who love classic films and are familiar with British cinema, I should say. Lots of Lords and Ladies!
Even though she adored her parents, her brother, and especially her sister, Juliet, there was darkness as well. Her mother was a life-long alcoholic and prone to depression. She was high-functioning, usually, but not always. Hayley struggled with adolescent angst, identity, and body image but of course, it was magnified by her fame and profession. All of her Disney money, which would have given her more freedom in her work-life balance was lost to the rapacious British tax system. Her marriage to Roy Boulting proved harmful to her career and less than ideal, to say the least. She does talk about some controlling behavior, but she has a lot of good to say as well.
There are a lot of encounters and anecdotes both great and small. Most are good-humored and all are written with the perspective of age and wisdom. Between the lines, though, a little sadness and regret do creep in from time to time. Roles not taken, love not pursued, her father’s lack of action in a few issues, being sent away for school. And especially her lawyer and family friend, who did not protect her trust. But she is always fair. and one senses that much is omitted that might not reflect too kindly on others. What shines through is that she seemingly was and is just as beloved by her friends and family as she was by her fans. Her childhood friends are still friends. Has anyone heard a bad word about Hayley Mills?
Most of the book, and of the most interest to me, is about her Disney years. After that the book kind of flagged a bit. For me, it ended how and when it should have. In her '70s (!), she is in a good place now, and that makes me happy.
**4 1/2 stars**
https://rebekahsreadingsandwatchings....
Because John Mills and his wife were so popular and respected among their peers, the book is chock-full of references about the leading lights of British Stage and film. Many many were not just casual acquaintances but good friends. And because their family was so solid, Hayley was right there.
We kids lived in the shadow of their great romance. It was the bedrock and stability of our life. We were molded to fit in with their lives, not the other way around. The other way around was unthinkable! Absurd! And yet that is precisely what was in the cards. If their twelve-year-old daughter was going off to make movies in “Horrorwood,” as Mummy called it, she would have to travel with me—and this would split them up.
I felt a little surge of excitement as I leafed through the crisp pages [of Pollyanna], imagining the scenes on the big screen. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed my father had opened his script too—“Swiss Family Robinson.” It felt good, knowing we all had a job with Disney. Daddy was always happiest when he was working. And if he was happy, then Mummy was happy. If they were happy, I was happy. That was my logic anyway.
Her films, even the later non-Disney ones, were full of the famous and revered. Famous not to everyone, but to those of my age who love classic films and are familiar with British cinema, I should say. Lots of Lords and Ladies!
Even though she adored her parents, her brother, and especially her sister, Juliet, there was darkness as well. Her mother was a life-long alcoholic and prone to depression. She was high-functioning, usually, but not always. Hayley struggled with adolescent angst, identity, and body image but of course, it was magnified by her fame and profession. All of her Disney money, which would have given her more freedom in her work-life balance was lost to the rapacious British tax system. Her marriage to Roy Boulting proved harmful to her career and less than ideal, to say the least. She does talk about some controlling behavior, but she has a lot of good to say as well.
There are a lot of encounters and anecdotes both great and small. Most are good-humored and all are written with the perspective of age and wisdom. Between the lines, though, a little sadness and regret do creep in from time to time. Roles not taken, love not pursued, her father’s lack of action in a few issues, being sent away for school. And especially her lawyer and family friend, who did not protect her trust. But she is always fair. and one senses that much is omitted that might not reflect too kindly on others. What shines through is that she seemingly was and is just as beloved by her friends and family as she was by her fans. Her childhood friends are still friends. Has anyone heard a bad word about Hayley Mills?
Most of the book, and of the most interest to me, is about her Disney years. After that the book kind of flagged a bit. For me, it ended how and when it should have. In her '70s (!), she is in a good place now, and that makes me happy.
When it comes to being parents, I hope my boys learn from my mistakes. But did I learn from my parents? My mother battled with alcohol her whole life. She never really got the better of it and she paid the price. My father never stopped loving her, nor she him, but their struggle served as a warning. Not necessarily of the perils of drink, but the dangers of failing to face one’s demons. So perhaps her battle had a positive outcome after all. Maybe that sounds a bit Pollyanna… There’s no doubt that playing that character at such an early age had a lasting influence on me. It made me aware of the importance of seeing the positive.But her son Crispian writes that the role of Pollyanna was perfectly cast....I think people will now realize that there is an element of Pollyanna in her that is very real. That was truth coming across on screen.”
**4 1/2 stars**
https://rebekahsreadingsandwatchings....
July 2, 2021
I remember playing my VHS tape of Pollyanna, then rewinding and beginning again, over and over and over. Imagine my excitement to see a biography of this talented actress coming across my radar! Unfortunately, the pace of the book was plodding, filled with list of films and theatre performances and endless but brief comments about co-stars and co-workers that did not lend to the development of the story. What began as what I had hoped would be an introspection, ended as a dry retelling. I'm disappointed that this didn't live up to they hype I had in my head. Thank you to Net Galley and Grand Central Publishing for this digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.
#ForeverYoung #NetGalley
#ForeverYoung #NetGalley
September 11, 2021
Hayley Mills was in two of my favorite movies, The Trouble With Angels and The Parent Trap, and I'm sure I've seen all of her Disney movies. That must be why whenever I hear or read her name, I think: Wow! Hayley Mills!. Hence, I was obviously excited to see she wrote a memoir, and tried to get an ARC, but failed. That's okay, though, I got the book on Kindle the day it was released, and got the library to order a copy for other readers.
It's an intelligent and interesting memoir about her life from her birth until she had her first son in 1973. (For those readers who want dirt and intimate details, look elsewhere.) Her father was the famous actor John Mills, her mother was writer Mary Hayley Bell. Miss Mills was supposed to be a boy, one who reminded her mother of her beloved father, but she still got the chosen name even though she was a girl. Much of the book is about family life and I kept thinking for a while that her parents would end up divorced, solely because they were an acting family. It was nice to see that never happened.
As a child, Hayley Mills became a Disney superstar, and all the observations about Walt Disney were interesting, to say the least. He was like a father figure, although she did not need another father, and a keen businessman, who wanted to make sure she did not make bad choices in picking non-Disney movies. Her parents, too, were super cautious about what roles she would accept, and turned down the offer to have her play the lead role in Lolita(1962). She says she regrets that, although I'm not sure why, since Sue Lyon, who got the role, told her how badly it left her stereotyped.
Miss Mills personal love life was mostly fantasy until she married a man old enough to be her father when she was 20. No, once again, she did not need another father, but probably found most guys her own age too unworldly, considering all that she had done and seen as a child and teenager. The marriage did not last, as all predicted, but did provide her with a cherished son. Those readers who are solely interested in her personal life, however, probably will be disappointed . . . or bored . . . that much of the book describes all the movies and plays she did. I found most of that information captivating enough, although at times I did skim some play parts. There's lots of famous and not so famous people mentioned, and none of it was name-dropping, in my opinion.
Will Hayley Mills be writing another memoir covering the rest of her life? Who knows? I will definitely read it, though, if she does. This is certainly a classy memoir; with enough but not too much personal information; that provided an unassuming look at the life of a very famous British child actress, in a very famous family; who worked for a very famous American who made movies so many of us will never forget. Plus, personally, I thought The Trouble With Angels was one of the most perfect movies ever made. Wow! Hayley Mills!
It's an intelligent and interesting memoir about her life from her birth until she had her first son in 1973. (For those readers who want dirt and intimate details, look elsewhere.) Her father was the famous actor John Mills, her mother was writer Mary Hayley Bell. Miss Mills was supposed to be a boy, one who reminded her mother of her beloved father, but she still got the chosen name even though she was a girl. Much of the book is about family life and I kept thinking for a while that her parents would end up divorced, solely because they were an acting family. It was nice to see that never happened.
As a child, Hayley Mills became a Disney superstar, and all the observations about Walt Disney were interesting, to say the least. He was like a father figure, although she did not need another father, and a keen businessman, who wanted to make sure she did not make bad choices in picking non-Disney movies. Her parents, too, were super cautious about what roles she would accept, and turned down the offer to have her play the lead role in Lolita(1962). She says she regrets that, although I'm not sure why, since Sue Lyon, who got the role, told her how badly it left her stereotyped.
Miss Mills personal love life was mostly fantasy until she married a man old enough to be her father when she was 20. No, once again, she did not need another father, but probably found most guys her own age too unworldly, considering all that she had done and seen as a child and teenager. The marriage did not last, as all predicted, but did provide her with a cherished son. Those readers who are solely interested in her personal life, however, probably will be disappointed . . . or bored . . . that much of the book describes all the movies and plays she did. I found most of that information captivating enough, although at times I did skim some play parts. There's lots of famous and not so famous people mentioned, and none of it was name-dropping, in my opinion.
Will Hayley Mills be writing another memoir covering the rest of her life? Who knows? I will definitely read it, though, if she does. This is certainly a classy memoir; with enough but not too much personal information; that provided an unassuming look at the life of a very famous British child actress, in a very famous family; who worked for a very famous American who made movies so many of us will never forget. Plus, personally, I thought The Trouble With Angels was one of the most perfect movies ever made. Wow! Hayley Mills!
December 31, 2021
❤❤
When I heard that Hayley Mills had a memoir coming out I might have been a little bit excited. Ever since I was a kid, she has been one of my favourite actresses, growing up watching Pollyanna and The Parent Trap repeatedly every school holidays.
I ordered the paperback book and then discovered that she reads the audiobook so I had to have that as well. Her voice is so English and proper, it was a delight to listen to her talk about her life. As the daughter of John Mills, acting was in her blood. Walt Disney saw promise at a young age and she became a star. He love of Walt shines through, and you can see what an big influence he was on her life.
Her life wasn't always easy, in fact she has suffered many heartbreaks and losses. It was an eye opening story about a child star, in the limelight and the difficult choices that she often had to make.
I loved hearing about the Disney days, but also about her teenage life, where she hung out with The Beatles at the height of their fame. Her family is a big part of her life, a tough relationship with her mother and competing with her father and sister for movie roles.
A few years ago - pre covid, I was so lucky to be able to see Hayley and her sister Juliette, perform in a play in Sydney called Legends. It was so wonderful to see her on the stage and I was thrilled to meet her after the show. I may have fan girled like crazy but I was a little excited.
Highly recommend this book and audiobook to fans.
When I heard that Hayley Mills had a memoir coming out I might have been a little bit excited. Ever since I was a kid, she has been one of my favourite actresses, growing up watching Pollyanna and The Parent Trap repeatedly every school holidays.
I ordered the paperback book and then discovered that she reads the audiobook so I had to have that as well. Her voice is so English and proper, it was a delight to listen to her talk about her life. As the daughter of John Mills, acting was in her blood. Walt Disney saw promise at a young age and she became a star. He love of Walt shines through, and you can see what an big influence he was on her life.
Her life wasn't always easy, in fact she has suffered many heartbreaks and losses. It was an eye opening story about a child star, in the limelight and the difficult choices that she often had to make.
I loved hearing about the Disney days, but also about her teenage life, where she hung out with The Beatles at the height of their fame. Her family is a big part of her life, a tough relationship with her mother and competing with her father and sister for movie roles.
A few years ago - pre covid, I was so lucky to be able to see Hayley and her sister Juliette, perform in a play in Sydney called Legends. It was so wonderful to see her on the stage and I was thrilled to meet her after the show. I may have fan girled like crazy but I was a little excited.
Highly recommend this book and audiobook to fans.
December 13, 2021
Really interesting. She is a big part of my childhood so when I saw this on the Your Lucky Day shelf at the library, I grabbed it. I always wondered why she took the role on Saved By The Bell and now I know why. The British IRS took all her Disney money!
Despite that, she kind of had the best of both worlds, jet setting movie star with a family life and home to return to after work. It was a loving but dysfunctional family and she suffered from low self esteem because of it, but she didn't seem to have been a victim of abuse of any kind as most child actors have. She hung out with all kinds of stars, including the Beatles. I find it hard to believe she stayed a virgin so long and there were no casting couch stories.
Anyway, she went on to live a happy life and became part of ours, and I've always been a fan.
Despite that, she kind of had the best of both worlds, jet setting movie star with a family life and home to return to after work. It was a loving but dysfunctional family and she suffered from low self esteem because of it, but she didn't seem to have been a victim of abuse of any kind as most child actors have. She hung out with all kinds of stars, including the Beatles. I find it hard to believe she stayed a virgin so long and there were no casting couch stories.
Anyway, she went on to live a happy life and became part of ours, and I've always been a fan.
August 11, 2021
A wonderful book! Stories about Disney, The Beatles, Judy Garland, Maurice Chevalier and some great films are threaded through this coming of age memoir. Highly recommended!
January 2, 2026
As part of a challenge (25in2025) this choice was picked from that unread pile.
Born into a UK royalty acting family, Hayley Mills fell into the career by lucky coincidence.
Her father Sir John Mills, already an established actor, her mother Mary Hayley Bell was a famous writer and older sister Juliet Mills was a rising star.
The early years growing up and being noticed by a famous director (he rewrote the part as a girl as it initially was a boy) for Tiger Bay, a box office success.
So begins the wonderful memoir, Forever Young.
Then we move onto her Disney contract, six movies as the first ever actor to be contracted.
We go deeper into the creative world, acting, how the movies came about, the disney magic and of course the man himself.
These stories are two thirds of the book and I was really happy that as a reader we got this.
We move on to her future years in acting and Hayley’s successful career.
Woven throughout we get a glimpse into personal tales, money issues and family history and intimate life.
I loved this biography.
I especially enjoyed all the Walt Disney accounts, history and anecdotes
It’s told with honesty, humour, experience, integrity, sincerity and passion.
I have always been a fan and I remain so.
Born into a UK royalty acting family, Hayley Mills fell into the career by lucky coincidence.
Her father Sir John Mills, already an established actor, her mother Mary Hayley Bell was a famous writer and older sister Juliet Mills was a rising star.
The early years growing up and being noticed by a famous director (he rewrote the part as a girl as it initially was a boy) for Tiger Bay, a box office success.
So begins the wonderful memoir, Forever Young.
Then we move onto her Disney contract, six movies as the first ever actor to be contracted.
We go deeper into the creative world, acting, how the movies came about, the disney magic and of course the man himself.
These stories are two thirds of the book and I was really happy that as a reader we got this.
We move on to her future years in acting and Hayley’s successful career.
Woven throughout we get a glimpse into personal tales, money issues and family history and intimate life.
I loved this biography.
I especially enjoyed all the Walt Disney accounts, history and anecdotes
It’s told with honesty, humour, experience, integrity, sincerity and passion.
I have always been a fan and I remain so.
December 16, 2025
This one was hard to assign a rating to.
I was sure it would get four, possibly even 5 stars, up until chapter 9. I really enjoyed all the details about Haley’s early childhood, and the parts about her experiences starring in Disney movies as a kid were fascinating! Honestly, that was the entire reason for me reading it.
After Chapter 9, it seemed like it just “dropped off”. The details of Haley’s life up to 1964 took 223 pages. Pages 224 to the end at page 376 covered several decades, in a rather rushed manner. Haley never talked about how her family ended up, or about the work she did in movies and tv in the 80’s (Good Morning, Miss Bliss, Parent Trap 2, etc.). She was suddenly married, then had a baby, up and left her husband, had a second son, then they were grown and and giving her grandchildren!
Whew!
It was for the first 9 chapters that I gave it 3 stars.
I was sure it would get four, possibly even 5 stars, up until chapter 9. I really enjoyed all the details about Haley’s early childhood, and the parts about her experiences starring in Disney movies as a kid were fascinating! Honestly, that was the entire reason for me reading it.
After Chapter 9, it seemed like it just “dropped off”. The details of Haley’s life up to 1964 took 223 pages. Pages 224 to the end at page 376 covered several decades, in a rather rushed manner. Haley never talked about how her family ended up, or about the work she did in movies and tv in the 80’s (Good Morning, Miss Bliss, Parent Trap 2, etc.). She was suddenly married, then had a baby, up and left her husband, had a second son, then they were grown and and giving her grandchildren!
Whew!
It was for the first 9 chapters that I gave it 3 stars.
March 23, 2022
I was a huge fan of Hayley Mills when I was a child, and I have especially happy memories of seeing "Pollyanna" and "The Parent Trap" multiple times. As a result of my childhood fandom, I was thrilled to receive this memoir for Christmas from my earliest childhood friend, who was also a Hayley Mills fan.
This is a well-written and very detailed account of Hayley's childhood and adolescence, and is especially interesting when she describes the Disney years. I found her account of the post-Disney period harder to read, mostly because her late adolescence included dealing with her alcoholic mother, a lack of self-confidence and even occasional periods of bulimia. If that wasn't enough, she documents her legal battles with the UK tax authorities over the trust containing her Disney earnings. By the time she had exhausted all of the possible appeals she was left with nothing but legal bills.
Finally, there is a lengthy account of her relationship and brief marriage to producer/director Roy Boulding, a man 32 years her senior. This also was hard to read—it made me sad that she had to go through those unhappy years.
Overall, however, I really enjoyed this book. It was a delight to read the story of someone who gave me so much childhood pleasure.
This is a well-written and very detailed account of Hayley's childhood and adolescence, and is especially interesting when she describes the Disney years. I found her account of the post-Disney period harder to read, mostly because her late adolescence included dealing with her alcoholic mother, a lack of self-confidence and even occasional periods of bulimia. If that wasn't enough, she documents her legal battles with the UK tax authorities over the trust containing her Disney earnings. By the time she had exhausted all of the possible appeals she was left with nothing but legal bills.
Finally, there is a lengthy account of her relationship and brief marriage to producer/director Roy Boulding, a man 32 years her senior. This also was hard to read—it made me sad that she had to go through those unhappy years.
Overall, however, I really enjoyed this book. It was a delight to read the story of someone who gave me so much childhood pleasure.
October 10, 2023
Hayley Mills is loved around the world for the films she made at Disney, specifically The Parent Trap, Pollyanna and That Darn Cat. Her career saw the major shift in the industry away from studio products to experimental, controversial films. Mills is the daughter of John Mills, a prolific British actor, and Mary Hayley Bell, an actress and writer. In this book, Mills describes her upbringing, her relationship with her family, her entrance into films up until her unsuccessful marriage to Ray Boulting and the births of her children. She does not talk about her career post early 70s, so don't expect to hear stories about Good Morning Miss Bliss.
This isn't just a surface level memoir. Mills discusses her thoughts at the time, thanks to the help of a meticulously-kept diary, and her modern reflections on moments in her life. She discusses her bulimia, her struggles with her trust fund, and of course her work. It is an entertaining and endearing book, made better since the author reads the audiobook, which makes it feel even more personal.
This isn't just a surface level memoir. Mills discusses her thoughts at the time, thanks to the help of a meticulously-kept diary, and her modern reflections on moments in her life. She discusses her bulimia, her struggles with her trust fund, and of course her work. It is an entertaining and endearing book, made better since the author reads the audiobook, which makes it feel even more personal.
Read
October 31, 2021I enjoyed every page. Hayley Mills was an icon to me--and if you're reading this, Ms Mills, Chalk Garden is far and away my favorite--hang the critics.
But I do wish you'd given your memoir a subtitle--to clue me in that you'd only really be covering your younger years. I'd still have read it, of course!
But I do wish you'd given your memoir a subtitle--to clue me in that you'd only really be covering your younger years. I'd still have read it, of course!
November 13, 2021
I loved Hayley Mills as a child and saw all her movies. This book concentrates on her life growing up with her famous parents, John Mills, and actor and his wife Mary, a screen writer. Her parents knew all the famous actors and actresses in England and were friends with many, including Lawrence Olivier and Vivien Leigh. In her first movie, Tiger Bay, she was cast because of a family connection and she had no acting experience. Walt Disney saw this movie and flew to London to cast her in Pollyana, and the rest is history. She received an honorary Oscar for Pollyanna, but she was asleep in bed--her parents didn't let her know at the age of 14. I am hoping she writes another book as this one leaves off 40 ago with the birth of her first child.
September 7, 2021
A must read for film buffs and Disney fans alike!
This book gives you not only an intimate look into the adolescence and early film career of Hayley Mills (sorry to other fellow Saved by the Bell fans--no Miss Bliss in this book!), but also into the careers, characters and realities behind many of the era's stars and films.
Mills' stories on Walt Disney, Rex Harrison and even a date with a Beatle are highlights that support the reader through a heartfelt early memoir. I say early memoir because this does not go into Mills' life beyond having her children. A wonderful ending point for this book, but left me wanting more, as Hayley Mills' is as gifted as a writer as she is on the screen. This memoir includes journal entries from Mills' youth, which are eloquently written, making me astonished that we have not seen writing from Hayley Mills sooner. Her writing is simply superb.
Some of my favorite scenes dealt with the realizations only discovered by having access to the Disney archives later in life. I also enjoyed how this seemed to be a child star up-bringing where the parents (also in the industry) truly attempted to do the very best they could for their family and for their child star daughter.
I walk away from this read loving Hayley Mills more than I already did. I am ready to put Pollyanna on the TV, but more than anything, ready for Book 2!
This book gives you not only an intimate look into the adolescence and early film career of Hayley Mills (sorry to other fellow Saved by the Bell fans--no Miss Bliss in this book!), but also into the careers, characters and realities behind many of the era's stars and films.
Mills' stories on Walt Disney, Rex Harrison and even a date with a Beatle are highlights that support the reader through a heartfelt early memoir. I say early memoir because this does not go into Mills' life beyond having her children. A wonderful ending point for this book, but left me wanting more, as Hayley Mills' is as gifted as a writer as she is on the screen. This memoir includes journal entries from Mills' youth, which are eloquently written, making me astonished that we have not seen writing from Hayley Mills sooner. Her writing is simply superb.
Some of my favorite scenes dealt with the realizations only discovered by having access to the Disney archives later in life. I also enjoyed how this seemed to be a child star up-bringing where the parents (also in the industry) truly attempted to do the very best they could for their family and for their child star daughter.
I walk away from this read loving Hayley Mills more than I already did. I am ready to put Pollyanna on the TV, but more than anything, ready for Book 2!
September 13, 2021
Hayley Mills is one of the biggest Hollywood legends from the 1960s. She was born into a famous entertainment family and eventually became a prominent child star at Disney Studios. This memoir gives us a glimpse into that life as a child star. The author talks about the pressure of remaining “forever young” (hence the title) and the complexities she faced from a show business family. At the age of 14, Hayley received the last special Oscar for child actors. But when her career peaked at 28, she started an entirely new life as a wife and mother.
One of the things that I thought was strong in this book was how the author created detailed scenes and a true sense of place, especially around Walt Disney's studio and The Dorchester Penthouse. The author did a fantastic job of inserting us into every unique moment, whether she's dating George Harrison, going to school, or with her sister. It was as if we experienced her life along with her.
A beautiful quote from the book is when the author wrote, "To say I went through the looking glass and down the rabbit hole would be putting it mildly. At the age of twelve, my life was tipped on its head, and I was plunged, literally, into Wonderland, often feeling very much like Lewis Carroll's bewildered Alice. Perhaps that's just how it is to grow up. One minute, you're free and innocent, full of the joys of life, and then suddenly, you're struggling to make sense of anything. I had some amazing luck and good fortune, but it all came at a price. The sole purpose of every young girl should be to become a happy, strong, and well-adjusted woman, but growing up is tough at the best of times, let alone when a multimillion-dollar career depends on you remaining a child. Writing about it sixty years on, I wonder whether this book is perhaps my first real chance to understand and take ownership of the strange and remarkable things that happened to me and to that young girl who went through the looking glass."
To listen to my interview with the author, go to my podcast at: https://zibbyowens.com/transcript/hay...
One of the things that I thought was strong in this book was how the author created detailed scenes and a true sense of place, especially around Walt Disney's studio and The Dorchester Penthouse. The author did a fantastic job of inserting us into every unique moment, whether she's dating George Harrison, going to school, or with her sister. It was as if we experienced her life along with her.
A beautiful quote from the book is when the author wrote, "To say I went through the looking glass and down the rabbit hole would be putting it mildly. At the age of twelve, my life was tipped on its head, and I was plunged, literally, into Wonderland, often feeling very much like Lewis Carroll's bewildered Alice. Perhaps that's just how it is to grow up. One minute, you're free and innocent, full of the joys of life, and then suddenly, you're struggling to make sense of anything. I had some amazing luck and good fortune, but it all came at a price. The sole purpose of every young girl should be to become a happy, strong, and well-adjusted woman, but growing up is tough at the best of times, let alone when a multimillion-dollar career depends on you remaining a child. Writing about it sixty years on, I wonder whether this book is perhaps my first real chance to understand and take ownership of the strange and remarkable things that happened to me and to that young girl who went through the looking glass."
To listen to my interview with the author, go to my podcast at: https://zibbyowens.com/transcript/hay...
January 17, 2022
Whilst I have long been aware of Hayley Mills, I had never sought out her work but last year I happened upon 'That Darn Cat' one of the Disney comedies she made and I found the whole thing a hoot. Any comedy that involves cats foiling murdering thieves and jokes about teenagers smoking pipes gets a vote from me. I mention this because I found one of the greatest pleasures of this book was the descriptions of the Disney culture that was so much a part of Hayley Mills' life in the 60s, something those of us of a certain age dreamed of when we saw clips of movies in 'The Wonderful World of Disney' but never saw whole movies. Hayley Mills saw the movies, was in the movies, and even hung out with Walt Disney himself. There's a child inside me that still says "Wow!"
Fascinating also is the depiction of growing up in a famous family where all was not sunshine and roses. Mills is to be commended for her sensitive treatment of her family in the book and, indeed, everyone she writes about. This is not a 'tell all' naming and shaming biography, but something far more positive. My only slight niggle is that the film 'Peeping Tom' is twice derided as a bad and disastrous film. It may have been disastrous for those who made it, but it is definitely not a bad film, but one that has attracted growing admiration over the years.
That said, I found this book to be thoughtful, very well written, and life-affirming. By drawing extensively from her diaries, Hayley Mills has been able to connect the dots between her adolescent and older self that has kept her and her memories 'forever young.'
Fascinating also is the depiction of growing up in a famous family where all was not sunshine and roses. Mills is to be commended for her sensitive treatment of her family in the book and, indeed, everyone she writes about. This is not a 'tell all' naming and shaming biography, but something far more positive. My only slight niggle is that the film 'Peeping Tom' is twice derided as a bad and disastrous film. It may have been disastrous for those who made it, but it is definitely not a bad film, but one that has attracted growing admiration over the years.
That said, I found this book to be thoughtful, very well written, and life-affirming. By drawing extensively from her diaries, Hayley Mills has been able to connect the dots between her adolescent and older self that has kept her and her memories 'forever young.'
January 31, 2022
I love Hayley Mills and I loved learning more about her, but I wish she'd written more about her time on set at Disney and more about her life past 28. It was totally lovely hearing her points of view on her life experiences, her opinions, just everything in her own words.
Read this if you're interested in the least bit about her.
Read this if you're interested in the least bit about her.
Read
February 3, 2022Leaving unrated, increasingly hard to judge personal narratives.
I devoured and adored the first third of the book. Vividly picturing interactions between meeting Walt Disney and memories on set of productions still memorized from childhood. I had no idea Hayley's father is the father in Swiss Family Robinson. But once she started in on films and theater I hadn't a personal connection to, I kinda checked out. Often needed to reread because my mind started to wonder. It's definitely long and yet not much of her years as a mother. Maybe she plans to have a second memoir some day.
I devoured and adored the first third of the book. Vividly picturing interactions between meeting Walt Disney and memories on set of productions still memorized from childhood. I had no idea Hayley's father is the father in Swiss Family Robinson. But once she started in on films and theater I hadn't a personal connection to, I kinda checked out. Often needed to reread because my mind started to wonder. It's definitely long and yet not much of her years as a mother. Maybe she plans to have a second memoir some day.
January 21, 2023
It's a decent book, just not what I wanted. I wanted chapters and chapters that talked about making the movies she did, and what she thought of the characters, and about her costars and their relationships, and this seems more like a family history. Which is fine, it's her book. :)
March 16, 2022
This is probably more like a 2-1/2 star read for me, but because I always enjoyed Hayley's movies, I gave it a 3! It started out great with lots of interesting details about Hayley's 7-year contract run with Walt Disney which started when she was about 12 years old. Walt Disney seemed to have more interest in her than her own dad did. She had great fun on the sets of her movies and those years gave her some stability that her family life did not. That was maybe the first 25% or so, and then it went downhill from there. It just became a rather boring "I did this and then I did that," etc.
Poor thing suffered from wackadoodle parents who were quite fixed on themselves and had no real care for their children. Ugh, and don't get me started on her narcissistic mother! That had to greatly affect her self-esteem and later decisions in life. She is always struggling to be accepted and often does things she thinks people want her to do to be loved.
I did enjoy the part where she was introduced to reading good books. . . and her mention of Santa Rosa while filming Pollyanna:
"The next morning, Jonathan, Mummy and Daddy, and I all flew up to Santa Rosa to start shooting. Santa Rosa back then was a beautiful and romantic part of California. It had been a wine-growing area for well over a hundred years, with old stone or clapboard houses, and trees draped with lichen that gave the place a sort of ghostly, abandoned feeling. The families that lived in these old houses had apparently been there for generations and the whole town seemed like it belonged to another era."
Towards the end of the book it seemed like she just ran out of steam, briefly mentioning her two boys but never saying who fathered the second one and then it just ends.
However, it did make me want to revisit Pollyanna, The Parent Trap and a few of her other movies that I loved when I was younger!
Poor thing suffered from wackadoodle parents who were quite fixed on themselves and had no real care for their children. Ugh, and don't get me started on her narcissistic mother! That had to greatly affect her self-esteem and later decisions in life. She is always struggling to be accepted and often does things she thinks people want her to do to be loved.
I did enjoy the part where she was introduced to reading good books. . . and her mention of Santa Rosa while filming Pollyanna:
"The next morning, Jonathan, Mummy and Daddy, and I all flew up to Santa Rosa to start shooting. Santa Rosa back then was a beautiful and romantic part of California. It had been a wine-growing area for well over a hundred years, with old stone or clapboard houses, and trees draped with lichen that gave the place a sort of ghostly, abandoned feeling. The families that lived in these old houses had apparently been there for generations and the whole town seemed like it belonged to another era."
Towards the end of the book it seemed like she just ran out of steam, briefly mentioning her two boys but never saying who fathered the second one and then it just ends.
However, it did make me want to revisit Pollyanna, The Parent Trap and a few of her other movies that I loved when I was younger!
October 28, 2022
As you’ve probably realised I do love a good memoir, and this was a really lovely book. It’s not a kiss and tell sort of book, not that I read those, but rather a gentle look back at Hayley Mills time as one of Disney’s biggest child stars.
I didn’t know much about Hayley Mills apart from a few films she’d been in, and of course that her father Sir John Mills was a massive British film star in his own right. In fact that was how Hayley came to be in films at all, because a director was visiting the family discussing Tiger Bay, a film that her father was in, and when he spotted her playing in the garden, and decided she’d be perfect for a part in it. And so began her life in films.
This was a very easy to read memoir, it felt like Hayley Mills was there chatting with me over a cup of tea, like we were old friends. She spoke about how her parents oversaw all her contracts with Walt Disney, which was fine in the beginning when she was barely a teenager, but as she got older she wanted more say and things became tense between. She clearly loved her parents though, which was really lovely to read about. I felt quite sorry for her as remembered going through all that teenage angst but not really having any close friends to confide in or encourage her.
As well as her recollections about the films she worked, on there are lots of lovely stories about the different famous people she met whilst in Hollywood and back in London. There was the evening spent with George Harrison that her mother had instigated and when she almost met Elvis!
Highly recommended if you enjoy memoirs.
I didn’t know much about Hayley Mills apart from a few films she’d been in, and of course that her father Sir John Mills was a massive British film star in his own right. In fact that was how Hayley came to be in films at all, because a director was visiting the family discussing Tiger Bay, a film that her father was in, and when he spotted her playing in the garden, and decided she’d be perfect for a part in it. And so began her life in films.
This was a very easy to read memoir, it felt like Hayley Mills was there chatting with me over a cup of tea, like we were old friends. She spoke about how her parents oversaw all her contracts with Walt Disney, which was fine in the beginning when she was barely a teenager, but as she got older she wanted more say and things became tense between. She clearly loved her parents though, which was really lovely to read about. I felt quite sorry for her as remembered going through all that teenage angst but not really having any close friends to confide in or encourage her.
As well as her recollections about the films she worked, on there are lots of lovely stories about the different famous people she met whilst in Hollywood and back in London. There was the evening spent with George Harrison that her mother had instigated and when she almost met Elvis!
Highly recommended if you enjoy memoirs.
November 12, 2021
It's o.k., but I have read better movie star autobiographies.
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