KallMeKris

Obviously, you know, if she has a shred of empathy in her, my God, can you imagine just your mom mutilating a beautiful butterfly in front of you to make you cry?

That's gonna do something to you.

That's something you're gonna talk about in therapy later in life, I tell you what.

Wells himself was stunned by the child's ability.

And he later said she was so good, she was terrifying.

And that quote, Natalie doesn't act from the script, she acts from the heart, unquote.

And Maria rehearsed her over and over until Natalie barely ever needed a second take, and which earned her the nickname, quote unquote, One Take Natalie.

And the following year brought Miracle on 34th Street.

And Natalie was eight years old at this point, but the role was perfect for her.

A skeptical kid convinced there's no such thing as Santa, who slowly realizes the man working in the department store might be the real deal.

And the film starred Maureen O'Hara and John Payne,

but it was Natalie who audiences remembered.

And it's been a holiday staple ever since.

And after it came out, Natalie was suddenly one of the biggest child actors in Hollywood.

And Macy's even invited her to appear in the Thanksgiving Day Parade.

And Parents Magazine gave her a title before she turned 10, quote unquote, most exciting juvenile motion picture star of the year.

Behind the spotlight, there was no real childhood to speak of, which we hear so much with child actors.

I feel so bad for them.

It's just not right.

Like I know there has to be child actors, but it just seems like it never goes right, unfortunately.