Here’s How Hayley Mills Lost and Reclaimed Her Fortune

Hayley Mills is a British actress known for her roles in classic Disney films such as “Pollyanna” and “The Parent Trap. Daughter of renowned actors Sir John Mills and Mary Hayley Bell, and younger sister to actress Juliet Mills, Hayley’s acting career began early.

Hayley Catherine Rose Vivien Mills was born on April 18, 1946, in Marylebone, London, United Kingdom. She gained acclaim for her role in the 1959 film Tiger Bay, earning the BAFTA Award for Most Promising Newcomer. This was followed by a Juvenile Academy Award for Pollyanna (1960) and a Golden Globe Award for New Star of the Year in 1961.

Mills’ financial troubles began when she turned 21. She discovered that the money she had earned from Disney was placed in a trust heavily taxed at 91% by the British Revenue Service. She was devastated to learn that most of her fortune had been wiped out. Mills tried to fight the tax decision, but her appeals were unsuccessful, and she ultimately lost around $17 million.

Following her financial setbacks, Mills continued to work in films and television. She starred in The Trouble with Angels (1966) and later worked with director Roy Boulting on several projects, including The Family Way (1966) and Twisted Nerve (1968). Her career spanned across various genres and included stage performances in productions like The King and I and A Little Night Music.

In the 1980s, Mills made a successful return to television with roles in The Flame Trees of Thika and Good Morning, Miss Bliss. She also reprised her Disney roles in The Parent Trap II and other related projects. Mills continued to act in various television series and films, including Wild at Heart and Compulsion.

Mills’ personal life saw her marry director Roy Boulting in 1971, with whom she had a son, Crispian Mills. After their divorce, she had another son, Jason Lawson, during a relationship with actor Leigh Lawson. Mills explored Eastern religions in the 1980s and later wrote about her experiences in My God. She has been in a relationship with actor/writer Firdous Bamji since 1997.

In 2008, Mills was diagnosed with breast cancer but overcame it with alternative treatments. She documented her life and career in her memoir Forever Young, published in 2021.