British actress Hayley Mills burst onto the scene in the early 1960s with her Oscar-winning role in Pollyanna and her unforgettable performance as twin sisters in The Parent Trap. These roles cemented her place as one of the most cherished child stars in Hollywood history. However, transitioning from a child star to an adult actress wasn’t easy for Hayley. In an exclusive interview with Closer Weekly, the now 71-year-old star opens up about the challenges of growing up in the public eye, her battle with cancer, and the joys of being a grandmother. "As I became a young adult, I realized what people loved about me was the child I was leaving behind," Hayley reflects. "I didn’t know what was coming next, and I didn’t have the luxury of doing it privately." Despite the hurdles, Hayley has continued to thrive both personally and professionally, finding happiness with her family and a fulfilling career on stage and screen.
Hayley's journey hasn’t been without its ups and downs, but she’s remained optimistic throughout. From starring in her new off-Broadway comedy Party Face to cherishing moments with her family—her sister Juliet Mills, sons Crispian Mills and Jason Lawson, and partner of two decades, actor-writer Firdous Bamji—Hayley has built a life full of love and purpose. "I feel like I was waiting my whole life to meet him," she says of Firdous. In this article, Hayley shares her thoughts on fame, overcoming adversity, and the simple joys of life. Keep reading to hear her inspiring story!
Hayley in The Parent Trap.
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Starting Young: Making Her Debut With Dad in Tiger Bay
Hayley’s journey into the world of acting began at just 12 years old when she starred alongside her legendary father, Sir John Mills, in the 1959 film Tiger Bay. For Hayley, this wasn’t just a professional milestone—it was a family affair. "I didn’t think much of it at the time because it was the world I grew up in," Hayley recalls. "My father and my sister Juliet were already actors, and my mother, Mary Hayley Bell, gave up acting to focus on writing because she wanted to stay home with us." Even as a child, Hayley was surrounded by the arts, which shaped her early life in profound ways.
A Family Legacy: From Pages to Screen
Hayley’s mother not only influenced her career choices but also contributed directly to her success. In 1961, Hayley starred in Whistle Down the Wind, a film based on a novel written by her own mother. Filming the movie at the tender age of 14, Hayley balanced her burgeoning career with a relatively normal childhood. "We tried to keep things as grounded as possible," she explains. "We lived on a farm in the countryside and I attended boarding school when I wasn’t working. I even spent nine months at a Swiss finishing school, where I learned French and how to ski. It was important to me to have balance, even if my life wasn’t always conventional."
Living in the Spotlight: Navigating Stardom as a Teenager
Despite her efforts to maintain a sense of normalcy, being a child star meant that Hayley’s life was anything but ordinary. "I always felt like I was on the outside looking in," she admits. "Other girls had close friendships and shared experiences, but my life was so different that I struggled to connect with them. It was isolating, but it also taught me resilience." For Hayley, stardom came with its own set of challenges, but she learned to embrace it over time.
