Eva Marie Saint - one of the last living legends of Hollywood's Golden Age - turns 100

Story by Danni Scott

July 6, 2024

Eva Marie Saint celebrates her 100th birthday (Picture: Michael Tran/FilmMagic)

Silver screen icon Eva Marie Saint celebrated her 100th birthday surrounded by four generations of her family.

The On the Waterfront legend is one of the last surviving stars of the Golden Age of Hollywood, having made her acting debut in 1944.

Eva won an Academy Award for the Marlon Brando film in 1955 before going on to win an Emmy in 1990 for People Like Us, as well as securing numerous more nominations.

Another notable role saw her starring alongside Cary Grant in Alfred Hitchcock’s North by Northwest (1959).

Just before her milestone day on July 4, Eva revealed her family would join her from across America in Los Angeles for the huge event.

‘I certainly don’t feel 100 years old,’ the actress told People. ‘I continue to take walks out in the fresh air, like watching baseball — especially the Los Angeles Dodgers, and enjoy time with my family and friends.’

Eva became one of the most well-known actresses of her era
(Picture: John Springer Collection/CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images)

She rose to fame in the Golden Age of Hollywood (Picture: Archive Photos/Getty Images)

She expressed that she has a ‘good life’, having retired from acting in 2021 at the age of 97.

Her family includes son Darrell Hayden, 69, and daughter Laurette Hayden, 65, both of whom she had by her late husband Jeffrey Hayden.

Hayden worked as a producer and director and the pair tied the knot on October 28, 1951, remaining together until his death on Christmas Eve, 2016, aged 90.

She also reportedly has four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, all joining her for her celebrations.

Her pivotal position as an icon of the Golden Age of Hollywood has been celebrated with two stars on Hollywood Boulevard, one for film and one for TV.

Keeping busy away from the spotlight, Eva once recalled to NPR: ‘Now Jeff and I did an interview, and this very prim and proper lady said, “Miss Saint, how do you stay married?”

‘This was, I think we were married 40 years then. So I become serious and I say, well, I think you have interests in things that you do together.

‘You certainly have to decide whether you’re going to have family or not. So I go on and on. She turns to Jeff. She said, “well, Mr. Hayden, what do you think the secret is?” And he said, “Sex”.'

First published at M Metro, July 6, 2024