Web Quotableonline.com Frasescelebres.org Greatbookscollection.org

Ona Munson (1903 - 1955) was an American actress
perhaps best known for her portrayal of prostitute
Belle Watling in Gone With the Wind.
 
Born Ona Wolcott in Portland, Oregon, she first
came to fame on Broadway as the singing and
dancing ingenue in the original production of No,
No, Nanette. From this, Munson had a very
successful stage and radio career in 1930s in New
York City|New York, where she also introduced the
song "You're the Cream In My Coffee". 

When David O. Selznick|Selznick sought out the
cast for his production Gone With The Wind, he
first announced Mae West was to play Belle, but
this was a publicity stunt. Tallulah Bankhead
refused the role as too small.  Munson herself was
the antithesis of the voluptuous Belle: tall,
freckled, and of slight build. But her skills as
an actress electrified her screen test: it was all
in the voice. She spoke deep and throaty in her
test, and her voice conveyed sexiness and
worldliness. The needed look for Belle could be
created in the wardrobe and makeup departments.

Ona Munson’s career was stalemated by the
acclaim of GWTW; for the remainder of her career,
she was typecasting (acting)|typecast in similar
roles.  In 1955, plagued by ill health, she
committed suicide with an overdose of barbiturates
in her apartment in New York.

actor-stub