She Was A Saint
Eva Marie Saint is a Hollywood oddity. Despite working with some of the big screen’s most desirable actors, she managed to stay married to the same man. There’s not even a record of her cheating. Could you blame her when she worked with Hollywood studs like Paul Newman, Warren Beatty and the great Marlon Brando? Compared to BFF Elizabeth Taylor, Saint certainly did live up to her name. And her reward was living more than a century.
1. She Was A Quaker
Eva Marie Saint was born in Newark, New Jersey, on July 4, 1924. Saint’s parents, John and Eva Marie, were both part of the Quaker religion, and Saint attended Bethlehem Central High School. While Quakers have a reputation for being a little on the dour side, Saint had her own thing going on.
Keystone Features, Getty Images
2. She Had Two Sides
According to the 1942 Bethlehem Central High School yearbook, Saint was class secretary, and she wanted to become a teacher. But there seemed to be a more free-spirited side to Saint. She was also a cheerleader, and her nickname was "Bubbles".
When Saint headed to university, her free-spiritedness took over.
3. She Joined A Program
Eva Marie Saint planned to study to become a teacher, but she ended up graduating from the acting program at Bowling Green State University in Ohio. Saint then headed to New York City, where there were more acting opportunities. To get close to the action, Saint joined the NBC page program. She would be earning next to nothing, but she would be in show business.
But before success, she’d have to feel her first sting of rejection.
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4. She Lost A Part
In 1947, Saint thought she had her big break after getting a part in a play called Mr Roberts. That is, until the director dashed her hopes when he came to her with bad news: they were replacing her with another actor. Apparently, she came across as too vulnerable.
The woman who replaced her was Jocelyn Brando, and it wouldn’t be long before Saint met up with another, even more famous Brando.
20th Century Fox, Wikimedia Commons
5. She Started Small
Getting in at NBC was a good idea because Eva Marie Saint soon got small roles in TV productions like Campus Hoopla and Bonnie Maid’s Versa-Tile Varieties. In 1949, Life magazine did a feature about her, and her struggles working for low wages and trying to make it big in New York City. While it may sound like an idea for a sitcom, this was Saint’s real life, and she desperately needed a break.
Pictorial Parade, Getty Images
6. He Was Just Some Random Guy
If Saint’s life in New York sounds like a sitcom, her romantic life was more like a rom-com. One day, Saint was on the subway, and she was carrying her modelling book. At the bottom of the book’s cover was her name written in gold letters. Some random guy standing behind her became curious about her name.
And when she walked away, his curiosity grew even stronger.
Pictorial Parade, Getty Images
7. It Was A Meet Cute
There was something about Saint’s name and the way she walked that prompted Jeffrey Hayden to make the move to meet this lovely creature on the subway. As it turned out, Hayden was a struggling TV director. When the two started talking, sparks flew. On October 28, 1951, they became husband and wife.
In the meantime, Saint was still looking for a way to advance her struggling career.
8. She Got Some Breaks
A break came on Broadway. In 1954, Eva Marie Saint appeared in The Trip to Bountiful and received the Outer Critics Circle Special Award. Two more breaks came when she won an Emmy for her role in the televised play Middle of the Night and a second Emmy for the 1955 musical version of Our Town. Here, her co-stars were Frank Sinatra and Paul Newman.
Now, Saint could trade her nickname from the silly “Bubbles” to something more career-oriented.
Silver Screen Collection, Getty Images
9. She Became Helen
Saint was getting so much recognition that the media decided it was time for a nickname. At this time, most thought of Helen Hayes as the queen of the stage. So, Saint became the “Helen Hayes of television”. But the small screen could not contain Saint’s huge talent.
It was time for her big film debut, and it would be a doozy.
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10. She Was One Of Two
One of Saint’s first auditions for a feature film was for On the Waterfront. Director Elia Kazan, who had already wowed audiences with A Streetcar Named Desire, had two actors lined up for the lead female role: Saint and Elizabeth Montgomery. With such an esteemed director at the helm, this was sure to be a hit film.
Saint needed this part to get her film career in motion.
11. Her Roots Gave Her An Edge
The character that Saint and Montgomery were vying for in On the Waterfront was Edie. Edie grew up literally on the waterfront in Hoboken, New Jersey. Saint also grew up in New Jersey, and her competitor, Montgomery, was a California girl. This gave Saint an edge.
But there was something that Montgomery had over Saint.
12. Her Age Was Against Her
The character Edie in On the Waterfront is 19 years old. Eva Marie Saint was already 30 by this time, and it was going to be a struggle playing someone so young. Montgomery, on the other hand, was 21. Luckily, Kazan thought that Saint’s background trumped her age, and she got the part.
Now all she had to do was convince audiences that she was still a teenager.
Trailer screenshottrailer at IMDBderivative work: Jim Evans, Wikimedia Commons
13. She Came Face To Face With Hollywood Royalty
In On the Waterfront, Marlon Brando played Saint’s co-star and love interest. Remember, his sister, Jocelyn, had taken Saint’s first Broadway role. Now, brother Brando was already a superstar in Hollywood, and Saint was in her first film. There certainly was a big chance for Saint to feel completely intimidated by this huge star.
But Saint had a way to feel sure about herself as an actor.
14. They Were Connected
The thing was, Eva Marie Saint actually had a connection to the Streetcar Named Desire star. Both Brando and she had attended the Actors Studio, and so there was a sort of academic bond. Saint knew he was a great actor, and she knew that a lot of other actors may have felt intimidated. Thankfully, she felt confident in her abilities as well.
In fact, working with him quickly became very natural.
15. They Were Natural Together
While preparing for one scene, Saint accidentally dropped her glove. Without thinking, Brando picked it up and then, to Saint’s surprise, thoughtfully put it in his own hand. The cameras weren't rolling, but Kazan loved the interaction. In fact, he asked them to do it again in the scene, and it stayed in the picture.
Saint was so surprised by Brando’s sensitivity that she made an odd comparison.
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16. She Called Him A Bird
While Brando had a reputation for playing macho guys, Eva Marie Saint said he reminded her of a hummingbird. She said it was his sensitivity to the material and other actors that made her think that. But also like a hummingbird, Brando was hard to grab and impossible to hang on to.
And it wasn’t always so easy with Brando.
Trailer screenshottrailer at IMDB, Wikimedia Commons
17. He Knew Her
While Saint was confident enough to act opposite Brando, there was something that got under her skin. She said it was like “he understood me more than I understood myself, knew more about me than I felt I knew myself”. It sounds like an intense working relationship, but the proof would be in the pudding.
Saint had to see how her acting measured up compared to Brando.
Unknown author, Wikimedia Commons
18. They Called Her Pretty
After viewing On the Waterfront, a critic in The New York Times called Eva Marie Saint “pretty and blond”, which sounds like one of the worst reviews of an actor ever. Except the reviewer went on to say that Saint’s acting skill meant she didn't have to rely on being a gorgeous blonde. This was a glowing endorsement of her talent.
Now all she had to do was wait for awards season.
19. She Got Downgraded
To say On the Waterfront was a success is a vast understatement. Critics sang its praises, and audiences went to theaters in droves. Of course, a lot of the talk was about the great Marlon Brando giving the performance of his life. Naturally, everyone was thinking about awards. To Saint’s surprise, producer Sam Spiegel put her name forward for Best Supporting Actress.
Wait a minute—Saint’s huge role was not a supporting one. What was going on?
Trailer screenshottrailer at IMDB, Wikimedia Commons
20. He Played A Game
As it turned out, Spiegel had a plan. He thought that if he put Saint’s performance forward as a supporting actress, she had a better chance of nabbing a nomination. Spiegel had concerns because the Best Actress category was sure to have huge stars like Judy Garland and Grace Kelly. Spiegel was playing a dangerous game with Saint’s career.
Now, they just had to wait for the announcement of the nominees.
21. It Was A Win Win
Spiegel’s plan worked, and Eva Marie Saint got the nomination. A nervous Saint attended the ceremony and felt the thrill when they called her name as the winner. Imagine: it was her first film, she starred opposite Brando, and she took home an Academy Award.
But there was something else going on that awards night.
Albert Howd, Wikimedia Commons
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22. It Was A Tight Fit
On the night she received her Oscar, Eva Marie Saint may have had trouble getting into her gown. You see, she was nine months pregnant at the time. In her acceptance speech, she even took a moment to joke that she may have the baby on stage.
Pregnant or not, Saint had her trophy, and she was ready to take on Hollywood.
Trailer screenshot, Wikimedia Commons
23. She Paid Her Dues
Believe it or not, Eva Marie Saint received a measly $7,500 for appearing in On the Waterfront, while Brando got $100,000. Okay, maybe Saint was paying her dues, but with her Oscar tucked under her arm, she was ready to start making the big bucks.
She decided to try comedy.
Trailer screenshottrailer at IMDB, Wikimedia Commons
24. She Got A Raise
In On the Waterfront, Saint played a teenager. In her next film, her love interest was 53-year-old Bob Hope. It was a huge leap, and so was the change over to comedy—and to a $50,000 paycheck. That Certain Feeling, besides including a cameo from Saint’s husband, was not a huge success.
Maybe it would be a good time to return to something a little more serious.
Trailer screenshottrailer at IMDB, Wikimedia Commons
25. It Was High On Drama
There aren't many films more dramatic than Raintree County. It also boasts a stellar cast including Elizabeth Taylor and Montgomery Clift. Off-camera also had its share of drama, especially when Clift got into a terrible car accident after partying with Taylor. Luckily, Saint seemed to steer herself clear of all the shenanigans.
But she couldn’t steer clear of this dud of a movie.
26. It Was A Loser
It may be that Raintree County was going for a Gone with the Wind kind of vibe, but it failed to compare in any way, especially with critics. Most of the complaints focused on the script rather than the performances, which was good news for Saint. She made $100,000 for this film, but it lost the studio money.
Saint was probably starting to worry that On the Waterfront would turn into her one-hit wonder. All she could do was keep trying.
27. It Was Ahead Of Its Time
Saint’s next film, 1957’s A Hatful of Rain, seemed ahead of its time. It tells the story of a veteran dealing with drug addiction. The story and cast received praise from critics, but maybe it was just too heavy. The box office was a huge disappointment, and there was Saint's name, right at the top of the list.
Saint needed to show the studio she could earn them money.
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28. She Received An Impressive After Invitation
Saint was waiting around for her next project when the phone rang. The call was a prestigious invitation to dinner. The host would be none other than Alfred Hitchcock. Of course, Saint must have assumed that this was about a movie, and it was. The dinner went off without a hitch.
Then Hitchcock asked for a second meeting.
29. She Dressed For Him
Between the two meetings with Hitchcock, Saint got a call from her mother, who knew a little-known fact about the famous director: when giving roles to women, Hitchcock liked them to be wearing white gloves and beige clothes. While this may sound a bit weird, Saint wanted the role, so she obliged. Her reward was a part in North by Northwest.
But Hitchcock’s interest in what Saint wore didn’t stop there.
30. She Needed Special Clothes
As usual, MGM’s costume department provided all the clothes that Saint required to play Eve Kendell in North by Northwest. Strangely, Hitchcock wasn't a fan of any of their choices. To fix this, he took Saint on a shopping spree at the very elite Bergdorf Goodman, so the two could choose what she should wear.
There was a reason why Hitchcock wanted Saint to look extra elegant.
31. She Got A New Kind Of Role
One of the reasons why Hitchcock felt he had to control Saint’s wardrobe in North by Northwest was due to her past roles. She tended to play frumpish and often tearful women who stayed at home by the kitchen sink. Hitchcock assured her that this role wouldn’t be similar. In North by Northwest there was no sink, and she didn't have to cry.
So, if she wasn't crying by the sink, what was she doing?
32. She Had To Be Fatal
North by Northwest was Saint’s first chance to play the role of the femme fatale. This was a sought-after part for movies considered film noir. It called for Saint to be a devious temptress that no man could say no to. Hitchcock gave her personal lessons on how to lower her voice and make it sound husky.
But there was a good chance that Saint and Hitchcock would not see eye to eye.
33. There Was A Clash Of Styles
While many actresses have later come out to accuse Hitchcock of all kinds of mistreatment, Saint has not. Yet, there was the opportunity for them to clash, as Saint was a method actor and Hitchcock wasn’t a fan of that style at all. In fact, his advice for her as an actor was ridiculously simple. He told her to lower her voice, always look her co-star in the eyes, and stop using her hands.
But Hitchcock did have some naughtiness in store for Saint.
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34. She Got Censored
There’s a scene in the dining car of a train that some thought got out of hand. Co-star Cary Grant is trying to seduce Saint, and her response is the suggestive line: “I never make love on an empty stomach”. Although it seems tame today, the censors required a change. In the new version, she doesn’t “discuss love on an empty stomach”.
But there was something else naughty about this film.
35. She Was In A Controversial Shot
At the end of North by Northwest, Saint and Grant’s characters, now lovers, are speeding off in a train. Just as they are about to get intimate, the train enters a tunnel. Hitchcock later called it “probably one of the most impudent shots I ever made".
But there was something even stranger on the set of North by Northwest.
Trailer screenshot, Wikimedia Commons
36. She Saw An Odd Behavior
Saint was still relatively new to making films, and she had a lot to learn. While filming on Mt Rushmore, she noticed something strange. As it turned out, big star Cary Grant was charging fans 15 cents in exchange for his autograph.
While this seemed very weird, Grant did have some serious advice for Saint.
37. They Just Wanted To Help
Grant's advice to Saint was that she should stop doing the serious drama roles. He suggested that she didn't have to “cry in a movie to have a good time”. Hitchcock chimed in with his opinion as well. Referring to her love of kitchen sink dramas, he said that audiences “don’t want to see you at the sink”.
For her next film, Saint would be as far from a sink as possible.
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Wikimedia Commons
38. She Went Epic
Saint slowed down her career in favor of time with her husband and two children. But she did manage to land a part in the fabulously expensive Exodus. This was a star-studded epic—Paul Newman and Peter Lawford were her co-stars—that tells the heartwrenching story of the founding of the State of Israel.
And with the heavy theme, came some disturbing antics behind the scenes.
Screenshot from Exodus, United Artists (1960)
39. If You Want Something Done...
During the filming of Exodus, director Otto Preminger was unhappy with how a kissing scene involving Saint was turning out. Shockingly, he didn't try to explain it to his actors—he did something much more disturbing. Preminger strode over to Saint, elbowed her co-star Paul Newman out of the way, and kissed her himself to demonstrate how he wanted it done.
Her experience with Preminger (understandably) left a bad taste in her mouth, especially coming after her glowing experience with another famous director.
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40. Make Believe
Director Elia Kazan was, according to Saint, the best director she ever worked with, and he helped her out with a key love scene in On the Waterfront. Saint recalls being in her slip and feeling a little bit self-conscious, so Kazan came over to her and whispered something intimate to her: he said her husband’s name. That did the trick, and Saint was able to complete the scene by pretending that Brando was her beloved husband.
After Brando and Newman, it was time for Saint to move into the arms of another handsome star.
41. She Met Up With An Up-And-Comer
Exodus was a big success, and it doubled its budget of $4.5 million. Her next film wouldn’t be so fortunate. Warren Beatty had only made a couple of films when he co-starred with Saint in All Fall Down. For this reason, Saint’s name got top billing, but this film was all about introducing Beatty as the new hot star.
It looked like Saint would be crying at the sink one more time.
Screenshot from Exodus, United Artists (1960)
42. It Was A Tearjerker
All Fall Down is a real tearjerker with Beatty playing a narcissistic womanizer who falls for an older woman, Saint. Of course, it all goes wrong and, like in her previous films, Saint spends a lot of time crying. Sadly, this movie also made the studio execs cry. All Fall Down lost almost $1.5 million.
Next, Saint would match with the power couple of the decade.
43. She Was A Third Wheel
For 1965’s The Sandpiper, Saint had the dubious opportunity of working with power couple Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton. Most saw this film as a cash grab for Taylor and Burton, who were capitalizing on their sizzling off-screen affair. Unfortunately, the reviews didn’t sizzle at all.
Saint would go from being a third wheel to being behind the wheel.
44. She Was The Replacement
The car racing movie Grand Prix had already begun shooting when Saint got a call. For some unknown reason, leading man James Garner wanted someone replaced. Suddenly, Swedish actress Harriet Andersson was out, and Eva Marie Saint was sitting pretty in the capable arms of handsome French superstar Yves Montand. This film was another huge success under Saint’s belt.
Saint’s career carried on until she reached this next blip.
45. She Was In A Film That Never Was
In the late 1990s, future president of the Academy John Bailey was filming a story set in a nunnery. He got Saint on board to play Mother Saint-Raphael. However, if you want to see Saint in Mariette in Ecstasy, it might be difficult. Before they could properly release the film to audiences, Savoy Pictures went bust.
The film has some supernatural elements, but it was Saint herself who seemed to have a premonition from a higher power.
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46. She Had A Premonition
While working on Mariette in Ecstasy, Eva Marie Saint channeled some divine inspiration. She made friends with co-star Geraldine O’Rawe and had a suggestion for her. She pointed at the cinematographer and told her it would be a good idea to marry him. O’Rawe initially laughed it off, but they married in 1998 and have been together ever since.
And speaking of the supernatural, Saint was about to meet up with a ghost from her past.
Unknown authorUnknown author, Wikimedia Commons
47. She Met Him Again
It had been many years since Eva Marie Saint and Marlon Brando had won Oscars together in On the Waterfront. Since then, Brando had passed, but this didn't mean that the magic of Hollywood couldn’t bring them back together. In Superman Returns, Saint plays the Man of Steel’s adoptive mother, and Brando appears—through archival footage and CGI—as the hero’s biological father.
If only she could make this next film disappear.
Elia Kazan Productions-Columbia Pictures, Wikimedia Commons
48. She Went Out With A Dud
Saint’s final film before retirement looked like it would go down in history. The star-studded cast for Winter’s Tale included Russell Crowe, Will Smith, Colin Farrell, and Jennifer Connelly. For Farrell, it was “a dream come true” to work with Saint. Sadly, the movie was a nightmare with the critics.
Luckily, there are some much better films for Saint’s legacy.
49. She’ll Go Down In History
In her career, Eva Marie Saint appeared in two very significant films. The National Film Registry by the Library of Congress chose both On the Waterfront and North by Northwest for being "culturally, historically or aesthetically" significant. She also received a Lifetime Achievement Award from The Greenwich Village Film Festival.
And let’s not forget the records she set.
50. She Made Some Lists
When Olivia de Havilland passed in 2020, Eva Marie Saint became the oldest living actor to have won an Academy Award. When producer Walter Mirisch passed in 2023 at 101 years old, she became the oldest living recipient in any category. When Saint’s husband passed in 2016, she may have set another record: a Hollywood marriage that lasted 65 years.
And she carries on.
51. She’s Still Here
It’s hard to believe that someone known for the golden years of Hollywood is still alive. Saint certainly is, and she saw everything from black and white films to CGI and everything in between. On July 4, 2025, she made the milestone leap to the age of 101. She was still young enough to celebrate with her family members, as four generations of Saints gathered for the festivities.
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Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18,
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