Actor / Director Profile

She played two of the most famous female leads in movie history. After acting exclusively on stage and television for many years, Eva Marie Saint made her film debut at age 30 in Elia Kazan's On the Waterfront (1954). She certainly brought "real acting" in a time when melodrama still ran rampant in the industry. Who can forget her memorable argument scene with Marlon Brando when she says, "I didn't say I don't love you, I said I want you to get out." For this performance she received a Best Supporting Actress Oscar.Eva Marie gave a strong impression in "Waterfront," but today she is best known for her portrayal of Eve Kendell, the sultry spy in Alfred Hitchcock's North by Northwest (1959), where she starred opposite Cary Grant. The change in Saint's screen persona, coupled with her adroit performance as a seductive woman of mystery who keeps Cary Grant (and the audience) off-balance, was widely heralded. The movie is now considered a suspense classic.Eva Marie also received Golden Globe and BAFTA nominations for A Hatful of Rain (1957), and won an Emmy Award for the miniseries People Like Us (1990) (TV). More recently, she was seen in the family film Because of Winn-Dixie (2005), and the action adventure Superman Returns (2006).Despite appearing in less than 20 features in her very lengthy career, she has earned the title "living legend" as well as having impressive longevity in show business. Eva Marie Saint is still going strong with her work. She takes the fact that she's part of film history in her stride.