Mary Maguire, a talented and beautiful Australian-born actress, made a name for herself in Hollywood films from the early 1930s. Born Helene Teresa "Peggy" Maguire in Melbourne, she was one of five children to Michael "Mick" Maguire, a former footfall player and boxer turned hotelier. One of her sisters, Joan Shannon, also became an actress.
Maguire attended the Academy of Mary Immaculate in Fitzroy, where she developed her passion for acting. She made her film debut unbilled in the 1933 film "Diggers in Blighty." Billed as "Peggy Maguire" in her second film, "Heritage" (1935),directed by Charles Chauvel, who discovered her, she received positive reviews and earned another significant role opposite Charles Farrell in "The Flying Doctor" (1936),where she changed her stage name to "Mary Maguire."
In August 1936, Maguire moved to the United States, where Warner Bros. signed her to a seven-year contract and cast her in "That Man's Here Again" (1937) alongside Tom Brown. She went on to star in "Confession" (1937),"Alcatraz Island" (1937),and "Sergeant Murphy" (1938). However, Warner Bros. released her from her contract when she refused a role in "Mystery House" (1938).
Maguire briefly signed with Fox, where she starred in "Mysterious Mr. Moto" (1938),the Gracie Fields musical "Smiling Along" (1938),and "The Outsider" (1939). She then signed with British Picture Corp. and appeared in "False Rapture" (1939) with Otto Kruger and "Mad Men of Europe" (1940) with Edmund Gwenn.
Maguire's career was interrupted by marriage and the birth of a child, but when the child tragically died in infancy, she returned to work, starring in the British film "This Was Paris" (1942) alongside Ann Dvorak and Ben Lyon. However, she did not receive any further film roles.
After a second marriage to Philip Henry Legarra in 1945, Maguire moved back to the United States, where he worked as an engineer. She attempted to revive her film career but was unsuccessful. The marriage lasted until his death in 1971, and Maguire passed away three years later, buried alongside her husband at Forest Lawn in Glendale, California.
