Mary Badham was born on October 7, 1952, and is an American actress who gained recognition for her portrayal of Jean Louise 'Scout' Finch in the 1962 film To Kill a Mockingbird.
As a child actress, Badham was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress at the age of 10, making her the youngest actress to receive a nomination in this category at the time.
Mary Badham is the younger sister of film director John Badham, and despite being in the same profession, the siblings have never worked together on the same project.
Before being cast in To Kill a Mockingbird, Badham had no prior experience in film acting. She was ultimately nominated for the Oscar, but the award went to another child actress, Patty Duke, for The Miracle Worker.
During the filming of To Kill a Mockingbird, Badham developed a close bond with actor Gregory Peck, who played Scout's father, Atticus. This friendship continued after the film's release, with Badham referring to Peck as 'Atticus' until his death in 2003.
In addition to her iconic role in To Kill a Mockingbird, Badham is also known for her appearance in the final episode of the original Twilight Zone series, titled 'The Bewitchin' Pool', where she played the character Sport Sharewood.
Badham's acting career continued with roles in Let's Kill Uncle and This Property Is Condemned before she eventually retired from the profession.
After being encouraged by actor and writer Cameron Watson, Badham made a comeback to acting for his film Our Very Own, where she played an offbeat cameo opposite Keith Carradine. Watson had personally reached out to Badham through Monroeville, Alabama, where she was invited to attend a stage production of To Kill a Mockingbird.
Currently, Badham works as an art restorer and college testing coordinator, and is married to a school teacher with two children, Anthony and Anna. She also travels the world, sharing her experiences making To Kill a Mockingbird and discussing the book's messages of tolerance and compassion.
