Natalie Wood

Natalie Wood (born Natalie Zacharenko on July 20, 1938) was an accomplished American actress. Starting her career in film at the young age of four, Wood later received critical acclaim for her transition to young adult roles. She secured a co-starring role in **Miracle on 34th Street** at eight and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in her teens for her performance in **Rebel Without a Cause**. Her career continued with remarkable performances in musical films like **West Side Story** and movies such as **Sex and the Single Girl** and **The Great Race**. By the 1970s, after a brief hiatus and giving birth to two daughters, she made her return to acting, mostly on television. Wood received a Golden Globe Award for her work in a television remake of **From Here to Eternity**. However, her career was cut short at the age of 43 when she tragically drowned near Santa Catalina Island during the production of her comeback film **Brainstorm**. The circumstances of her death remain a topic of speculation and controversy.