**Donna Reed** (1921-1986) was an American actress with a sweet and reassuring face, noted for her significant film career. She is inextricably linked to the iconic role of Mary Hatch Bailey in Frank Capra's classic *It's a Wonderful Life* (1946), where she embodied the ideal "girl next door."

Her dramatic depth was fully recognized with *From Here to Eternity* (1953), a film for which she won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her portrayal of Alma "Lorene" Burke, a more complex and sensual role. Although often associated with gentle characters, affectionate wives, and maternal figures, Reed demonstrated remarkable versatility, solidifying her reputation as one of Hollywood's most beloved stars in the 1940s and 1950s.