Who played Mary on It’s a Wonderful Life? How old is Donna Reed in It’s a Wonderful Life?

Mary Hatch Bailey, the sweetheart and later wife of protagonist George Bailey in Frank Capra’s 1946 film “It’s a Wonderful Life,” was played by Donna Reed as an adult and Jean Gale as a child.

Donna Reed was 25 years old when she portrayed Mary in “It’s a Wonderful Life”. She played the role of Mary from the age of 18 to 35 in the film, showcasing her talent and versatility as an actress.

Donna Reed graduated from Denison High School and moved to California to attend Los Angeles City College. In 1941, after signing with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Donna Reed made her film debut in The Get-Away opposite Robert Sterling.

Donna Reed replaced Barbara Bel Geddes as Miss Ellie Ewing Farlow in the 1984–1985 season of the television melodrama Dallas. Reed played the role of a nurse in John Ford’s They Were Expendable (1945), opposite John Wayne.

Donna Reed played opposite Mickey Rooney in The Courtship of Andy Hardy (1942) and starred in Calling Dr. Gillespie (1942) and Apache Trail (1942).