Hayley Mills Biography: Husband, Age, Children, Net Worth, Height, Parents, Disney Movies, Legacy

Hayley Mills is a celebrated English actress and former child star, best known for her iconic roles in Disney films such as Pollyanna and The Parent Trap.

With a career spanning over six decades, she has transitioned seamlessly from a beloved juvenile lead to a respected actress in film, television, and theater, earning accolades for her charm and versatility.

Profile

• Full Name: Hayley Catherine Rose Vivien Mills
• Stage Name: Hayley Mills
• Born: April 18, 1946
• Age: 79 years old
• Birthplace: Marylebone, London, United Kingdom
• Nationality: British
• Occupation: Actress
• Height: 5 feet 3 inches (1.60 m)
• Parents: Sir John Mills, Mary Hayley Bell
• Siblings: Juliet Mills, Jonathan Mills
• Spouse: Roy Boulting (m. 1971–1977), Leigh Lawson (M.1997)
• Children: Crispian Mills, Jason Lawson
• Relationship: Married
• Net Worth: $5 million USD

Early Life and Education

Hayley Mills was born on April 18, 1946, in Marylebone, London, to Sir John Mills, an acclaimed actor, and Mary Hayley Bell, a novelist and playwright.

Growing up in a creative family, alongside her older sister, Juliet Mills, an actress, and older brother, Jonathan Mills, Hayley was immersed in the arts from a young age.

She attended Elmhurst Ballet School in Camberley, Surrey, where she trained in dance and drama, though her education was tailored to accommodate her early acting career.

Her privileged yet grounded upbringing in London and later Sussex provided a foundation for her entry into the entertainment industry at age 12, when she was discovered by director J. Lee Thompson.

Career

Hayley Mills began her acting career with her debut in Tiger Bay (1959), starring opposite her father, John Mills, and earning a BAFTA nomination for Most Promising Newcomer.

Her breakout role came in Disney’s Pollyanna (1960), which won her a Juvenile Academy Award. She became a household name with The Parent Trap (1961), playing twin sisters, followed by other Disney classics like Whistle Down the Wind (1961), In Search of the Castaways (1962), Summer Magic (1963), The Moon-Spinners (1964), and That Darn Cat! (1965).

As a teenager, she signed a five-year contract with Disney, becoming one of their biggest stars. Transitioning to adult roles, she starred in films like The Chalk Garden (1964) and The Trouble with Angels (1966).

Her theater career flourished with performances in The Wild Duck (1970), Three Sisters (1970), and The King and I (1997–1998).

In the 1980s, she appeared in television films like The Flame Trees of Thika (1981) and played Miss Carrie Bliss in Good Morning, Miss Bliss (1987–1989), a precursor to Saved by the Bell.

Later roles included Wild at Heart (2007–2012) as Caroline Du Plessis, Moving On (2018), and Unforgotten (2021).

In 2024, she starred as Miss Jane Marple in Murder Is Easy and appeared in M. Night Shyamalan’s Trap as Dr. Josephine Grant, showcasing her enduring versatility.

Awards and Nominations

• 1960: BAFTA Film Award – Most Promising Newcomer (Tiger Bay) – Nominated
• 1960: Berlin International Film Festival – Silver Bear Extraordinary Jury Prize (Tiger Bay) – Won
• 1961: Academy Juvenile Award (Pollyanna) – Won
• 1961: Golden Globe Award – Most Promising Newcomer, Female (Pollyanna) – Nominated
• 1962: BAFTA Film Award – Best British Actress (Whistle Down the Wind) – Nominated
• 1962: Golden Globe Award – Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy (The Parent Trap) – Nominated
• 1962: Laurel Award – Top Female Comedy Performance (The Parent Trap) – Won
• 1998: Women in Film Lucy Award – Contributions to Film and Television – Won
• 2021: Disney Legends Award – Contributions to The Walt Disney Company – Won

Social Media

Hayley Mills does not have a social media account.

Personal Life

Hayley Mills, 79, is married to actor Leigh Lawson, whom she met in 1975 while performing in A Touch of Spring.

They began a relationship, had a son, Jason Lawson, in 1976, and married in 1997.

Hayley was previously married to director Roy Boulting from 1971 to 1977, with whom she has a son, Crispian Mills, the lead singer of the band Kula Shaker.

She has four grandchildren from Crispian’s marriage to Josephine Brant. Hayley resides with Lawson in West London, maintaining a low-profile life focused on family and occasional acting.

She battled breast cancer in 2008, undergoing chemotherapy and a double mastectomy, and has since become an advocate for cancer awareness.

Filmography:

• Tiger Bay (1959) – Gillie Evans
• Pollyanna (1960) – Pollyanna Whittier
• The Parent Trap (1961) – Susan Evers/Sharon McKendrick
• Whistle Down the Wind (1961) – Kathy Bostock
• In Search of the Castaways (1962) – Mary Grant
• Summer Magic (1963) – Nancy Carey
• The Chalk Garden (1964) – Laurel
• The Moon-Spinners (1964) – Nikky Ferris
• That Darn Cat! (1965) – Patti Randall
• The Trouble with Angels (1966) – Mary Clancy
• The Family Way (1966) – Jenny Fitton
• The Daydreamer (1966) – The Little Mermaid (Voice)
• Take a Girl Like You (1970) – Jenny Bunn
• Appointment with Death (1988) – Miss Quinton
• Good Morning, Miss Bliss (1987–1989) – Miss Carrie Bliss (TV Series)
• The Flame Trees of Thika (1981) – Tilly Grant (TV Miniseries)
• Parent Trap III (1989) – Susan Evers/Sharon Grand (TV Movie)
• Wild at Heart (2007–2012) – Caroline Du Plessis (TV Series)
• Foster (2011) – Mrs. Lange
• Moving On (2018) – Madge (TV Series)
• Unforgotten (2021) – Lady Emma Hume (TV Series)
• Murder Is Easy (2024) – Miss Jane Marple (TV Miniseries)
• Trap (2024) – Dr. Josephine Grant

Discography:

• “Let’s Get Together” (1961, Single from The Parent Trap)
• “Jeepers Creepers” (1961, Single from The Parent Trap)

Net Worth

Hayley Mills’ net worth is estimated at $5 million USD. Her wealth stems from her extensive career in film, television, and theater, particularly her lucrative Disney contract in the 1960s, which included royalties from films like The Parent Trap and Pollyanna.