Monstrous Facts About Fay Wray, Hollywood’s First Scream Queen
Dubbed by some as the hardest-working actress in Hollywood, Fay Wray was a legend in the world of early filmmaking.
A master of blood-curdling screams, Wray was most well-known as the beauty held high in the giant hand of one of cinema’s best-known monsters. When she wasn’t busy acting, Wray had to navigate failed relationships and the darker side of fame.
Sadly, the one thing she never escaped was the silhouette of the giant ape that overshadowed all her other achievements.
1. She Came From Humble Beginnings
Vina Fay Wray was born on September 15, 1907, near Cardston, Alberta, to Joseph Heber Wray and Elvina Marguerite Jones. Only a few short years into her life, her family up and moved down to Utah, where her parents struggled financially to provide for her and her five siblings—but the worst was yet to come.
It wasn’t long after that her father disappeared, leaving Wray’s mother to care for the children by herself.
2. She Had A Lucky Break
Without anyone to provide for the family, Wray began searching for work. And as luck would have it, a connection gave her the opportunity she was looking for. Her sister’s beau, who worked as a photographer, decided to bring her to Los Angeles.
It was there that she found work with Hal Roach Studios, a film company. A contract with Universal Studios and several films were not far behind. From there, her luck would only grow.
3. She Won A Special Honor
The talented and beautiful young actress made such a good impression when she arrived on the scene that she caught the attention of some who would catapult her into the spotlight. In 1926, Wray was chosen to be one of the “WAMPAS Baby Stars”
, who were young actresses who showed real promise and were expected to make it big in showbiz.
And though not all the Baby Stars panned out in the end, that was not the case for Wray. WAMPAS had picked a real ringer—and make it big she did.
4. She Finally Took Center Stage
Thrust into the limelight, Fay Wray seized the opportunity to act in a lead role, after several years of small bits and uncredited work. At just 18 years of age, she accepted director Erich von Stroheim’s offer to headline the romantic drama The Wedding March. It was hard work—but Wray wasn’t prepared for Von Stroheim’s extreme approach to direction. The perfectionist Stroheim told the cast they would film 24,000 takes until they got it right if necessary.
Credited for its high production and Wray’s performance, it was nevertheless a financial bust. Despite the flop, Wray always considered it to be her best work—a work that would soon be overshadowed.
#/media/File:Fay_Wray_and_Erich_von_Stroheim_on_the_set_of_the_film_The_Wedding_March,_1928.jpg){kind=link}