Gone With the Wind Wiki
Advertisement
Onemunson

Owena Elizabeth Wolcott, better known as Ona Munson (1903-1955) was an American actress who played Belle Watling in Gone With the Wind (1939). She would later play another Southerner in Lady from Louisiana.

On the set of Gone With the Wind, Ona Munson read "The Hussy's Handbook", a humorous guide in line with her promiscuous charater. She won the role from Mae West and Tallulah Bankhead, who was offered the role after being refused Scarlett for being too old, but thought the part was too small.

She had been in Dramatic School (1938) with Ann Rutherford (Carreen O'Hara) and Paulette Goddard, who was almost given the role of Scarlett.

Ona Munson died in 1955 from suicide. She had had relationships with Alla Nazimova and Mercedes de Acosta.

Advertisement