Edna May Wonacott

Edna May Wonacott
Born(1932-02-06)February 6, 1932
Willits, California, U.S.
DiedJune 26, 2022(2022-06-26) (aged 90)
Yuma, Arizona, U.S.
OccupationFilm actress
Years active1943–1952
Spouse
Robert Green
​
​
(m. 1951; died 2008)​
Children3

Edna May Wonacott (February 6, 1932 – June 26, 2022) was an American child actress, best known for her role as Ann Newton in the 1943 movie Shadow of a Doubt. The director, Alfred Hitchcock, and film producer Jack H. Skirball handpicked the then-nine year old for the film while she was waiting for the bus. At that time she had no experience as an actress.

Wonacott received a seven-year contract and Hitchcock predicted that she would become a star within a year. Other than Shadow of a Doubt, she made minor (uncredited) appearances in several films, including The Bells of St. Mary's and The Model and the Marriage Broker, then retired at age 20.

Personal life and death

Wonacott was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Elie Wonacott of Santa Rosa, California. In 1951, she married Robert Royce Green and had three sons. As of 2010, she resided in Yuma, Arizona, under the name Edna Green. She died there in June 2022, at the age of 90.

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
1943Shadow of a DoubtAnn Newton
1944Hi, BeautifulYoung GirlUncredited
1945Under Western SkiesFaith
1945This Love of OursYoungsterUncredited
1945The Bells of St. Mary'sDelphine FordUncredited
1951Sunny Side of the StreetBobby-SoxerUncredited
1951The Model and the Marriage Broker2nd Miss PerryUncredited

References

  1. ↑ ""Want to be a star?"". The Milwaukee Sentinel. December 27, 1942. Retrieved March 19, 2014 – via Google News Archive.[dead link]
  2. ↑ "Father of movie starlet enjoys booming success". The Pittsburgh Press. October 7, 1942. Retrieved March 19, 2014 – via Google News Archive.
  3. ↑ "$5,000 Production". Life. Vol. 14, no. 4. Time Inc. January 25, 1943. pp. 70–78. ISSN 0024-3019.
  4. ↑ "Filmography for Edna May Wonacott". Turner Classic Movies. Archived from the original on August 16, 2024. Retrieved August 15, 2024.
  5. ↑ "10-Year-Old S.R. Girl Gets Chance at Role in Movies!". The Press Democrat. Santa Rosa, California. July 28, 1942. p. 1. Retrieved April 8, 2018 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  6. ↑ Schneider, Patricia (March 14, 2010). "In the movies". Yuma Sun. pp. 41 & 44. Retrieved July 3, 2016 – via NewspaperArchive.
  7. ↑ Mutti-Mewse, Austin; Mutti-Mewse, Howard (October 24, 2024). "R.I.P: A very belated farewell to the American child actress Edna May Wonacott, who died in June 2022, aged 90, and is best known for her role as Ann Newton, the younger sister of the films lead, played by Teresa Wright in the 1943 physiological thriller "Shadow of a Doubt" (1943), also starring Joseph Cotten". film_mewse on Instagram. Retrieved October 26, 2024.