Mary Virginia Martin (December 1, 1913 – November 3, 1990) born in Weatherford, Texas was an American star of (mainly stage) musicals. Amongst the roles originally created by her were those of Nellie Forbush in South Pacific and Maria in The Sound of Music.

Early life

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Her life as a child, as Martin describes it in her autobiography My Heart Belongs, was secure and joyful. She had close relationships with both her mother and father, as well as her other siblings. Her autobiography details how the young actress had an instinctive ear for recreating the sounds heard in the musical world.

Career

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Mary Martin struggled for nearly two years to break into show business. She was nicknamed "Audition Mary" because she auditioned so often. As a struggling young actress, Martin endured humorous and sometimes frightful luck trying to make it in the world, from car crashes leading to vocal instruction, unknowingly singing in front of Oscar Hammerstein II, to her final break on Broadway granted by the very prominent producer, Lawrence Schwab.

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