Donna Reed (born Donnabelle Mullenger) grew up on a farm in Iowa and went to college in Los Angeles. At 20, she was "discovered" by MGM and offered a 4-year contract. The studio gave her a new name, told her what to wear, where to go and whom to be seen with - as part of her "transformation into a star." Her career developed steadily, but received a setback when Frank Capra's It's a Wonderful Life did not do well at the box office. (Ironically, it is now her most famous film and role.) She turned her attention to family life and eventually had four children. In 1954, she returned to acting, looking for films that didn't type-cast her as the wholesome girl-next-door. Her portrayal of Alma, a prostitute, in From Here to Eternity, led to an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. She also won awards for her own long-running TV series. During middle age, she became an anti-war activist. She died of cancer in 1986. Interviews with friends and colleagues Mickey Rooney, Joyce Anderson Fisk, and Shelley Fabares (who played her daughter on TV), as well as Reed's own children, add insights to this story of a determined, good-hearted, intelligent, talented woman. ~ Alice Duncan, Rovi
