Mary Badham

Mary Badham portrayed Jean Louise “Scout” Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird (1962), for which she was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. At the time, Mary (aged 10) was the youngest actress ever nominated in this category. Mary had no film acting experience before being cast in To Kill a Mockingbird. Mary became particularly close to actor Gregory Peck who played Scout’s father Atticus Finch; she kept in touch with him, always calling him “Atticus,” until his death in 2003. Peck called her “Scout” in return.

Mary also played Sport Sharewood in the Bewitchin’ Pool, the final episode of the original Twilight Zone series. She also appeared in the films This Property is Condemned and Let’s Kill Uncle before retiring from the acting profession.

In 2005, at the urging of actor/writer/director Cameron Watson, Mary came out of retirement to play an offbeat cameo opposite Keith Carradine for his film, Our Very Own. Watson stated he would not accept any other actress for the part. Mary made her tour debut as a stage actor portraying Mrs. Dubose in the U.S. national tour of Aaron Sorkin’s stage adaptation of To Kill a Mockingbird in 2022.