Hayley Catherine Rose Vivien Mills made her film-debut at 12, alongside her father, Sir John Mills, in the crime-drama ‘Tiger Bay’ (1959), earning the ‘BAFTA Award for Most Promising Newcomer.’
Mills portrayed the role of the cheerful orphaned girl in Disney’s ‘Pollyanna’ (1960) which made her a star and won ‘Academy Juvenile Award’ and ‘Golden Globe Award for New Star of the Year.’ She played dual roles of teenage twins in Disney’s the hit romantic-comedy ‘The Parent Trap’ (1961).
Her work in the successful film-adaption of her mother, Mary Hayley Bell’s novel of the same name, ‘Whistle Down the Wind’ (1961), fetched BAFTA nomination for ‘Best British Actress,’ with Mills being named biggest star of 1961 in Britain. Disney’s adventure-film ‘In Search of the Castaways’ (1962) and the musical ‘Summer Magic’ (1963) were commercially well-received.
Mills appeared in the film-adaption of the play ‘The Chalk Garden’ (1964), followed by Disney’s mystery-film ‘The Moon-Spinners’ (1964). Her next starrer, ‘Sky West and Crooked’ (1965), written by her mother and directed by her father, wasn’t very successful, while her last film with Disney, the thriller-comedy ‘That Darn Cat!’ (1965) was a major success.
Mills appeared alongside her father in the moderately successful adventure-film ‘The Truth About Spring’ (1965) followed by hit comedy ‘The Trouble with Angels’ (1966). Her next starrer, the much-admired comedy-drama ‘The Family Way’ (1966), too, was a mega-hit. In ‘Pretty Polly’ (1967), set in Singapore, she starred opposite Indian actor Shashi Kapoor.
Mills’ horror-thriller ‘Twisted Nerve’ (1968), comedy ‘Take a Girl Like You’ (1969), ‘Mr. Forbush & the Penguins’ (1971), the horror-mystery ‘Endless Night’ (1972), the comedy ‘What Changed Charley Farthing?’ (1975), and ‘Deadly Strangers’ (1975) couldn’t recreate her earlier success.
After a sabbatical, Mills starred in the well-liked mini-series ‘The Flame Trees of Thika’ (1981), followed by TV-films series ‘Parent Trap II, III, and Parent Trap: Hawaiian Honeymoon’ (1986, 1989, 1989) and reprised her dual roles. She played ‘Miss Bliss’ in the teen-sitcom ‘Good Moring, Miss Bliss’ (1988-1989), and appeared in series ‘Wild At Heart’ (2007) and ‘Mandie & the Cherokee Treasure’ (2010). She was the narrator for an episode of ‘The Wonderful World of Disney.’
A comedy about two lively girls growing up in a Catholic environment. It follows their adventures as they go on making mischief and giving the nuns at their Catholic school a hard time.
Two identical twin sisters, who are separated by birth due to the divorce of their parents, get reunited years later at a summer camp, where they decide to bring their parents back together. Therefore, the girls, switch places with each other, and go back to their parents, and starts working on their plan.
After her parents pass away, a 12 year old girl named Pollyanna goes to live with her Aunt Polly in a town named Harrington. Within some time, she begins to transform the town with her good will and kindness.
The Truth about Spring is an adventure comedy drama film which tells the story of a young girl Spring, who lives a simple and isolated life with her father. However, she sets out on an adventure in search of a buried treasure.
That Darn Cat! is a comedy thriller film which tells the story of a kidnapped woman, who tries to send out an SOS message with the help of a wandering cat. Upon learning about this, the cat’s owner decides to inform the FBI. The FBI tries to follow the cat, hoping that it will lead them to the kidnapped woman.
This romantic drama film revolves around a girl who is blamed for an accident in which her friend was killed. She is neglected by society, but years later, she finds romance in a gypsy boy, who falls for her.
Richard Forbush, a young London biologist, is more interested in girls than science. When assigned to study penguins’ colony in Antarctica, he reluctantly agrees only impress his latest fascination, Tara St. John Luke, a biology student. However, while studying the penguins, he truly becomes interested and tries for their betterment. When it is time to return, Forbush is a completely changed person.
So Well Remembered is a drama film which tells the story of George Boswell, a town councilor and newspaper editor, who at the end of the Second World War, starts to recall the past twenty six years of his life in his hometown. He remembers how as a councilor and newspaper editor, he had fought for better living and working conditions for the people.
Polly Barlow sees the world for the first time after she decides to spend some time with her wealthy aunt as a traveling companion. While in India, her aunt passes away, leaving her alone. She soon starts having a romance with a local tour boy.
Africa Texas Style is an adventure Western film which tells the story of an American cowboy Jim Sinclair, who travels all the way to Africa, to look after an estate owned by Howard Hayes. Although Hayes hopes that his efforts will help to feed starving people in the nearby villages, another rancher named Karl has other ideas.
Benedict and his sister Tracey are the offsprings of Hendrich Van Der Byl, who owns and operates Van Der Byl Diamond Mines, a lucrative diamond mining operation in South Africa. Benedict spends most of his time pursuing women, and also steals a diamond here and there occasionally, for his female companions. His life gets complicated when an outsider named Johnny, who has overshadowed Benedict all his life, tries to take control of their business empire. Things get complicated for Benedict because Tracey decides to side with Johnny.
A teen boy named Hans Christian Andersen, who is the son of a poor shoemaker, spends his time in daydreams instead of studying at school. Eventually, he runs away from home, and whenever he goes into sleep, he starts dreaming of strange adventures.
Stanley, a troll is banished by an evil Queen, and he is to serve his exile in New York City. His vessel lands in Central Park, where he meets and befriends two siblings.
Hayley Mills Awards
| Pollyanna | Most Promising Newcomer - Female | 1961 |
| Tiger Bay | Most Promising Newcomer to Film | 1960 |
