Original Annie child star still sports iconic flame red hair on rare public outing at 54… see her now

by

Aileen Quinn became famous when she was young for playing Annie in the popular musical.

When Quinn was nine years old, she won the role of the red-haired orphan in a 1982 movie, beating out nearly 8,000 other young actresses. The film was one of the last directed by the famous filmmaker John Huston.

Even when she was young, Quinn showed exceptional talent, and Annie later received nominations for two Academy Awards and two Golden Globes.

The part instantly made Quinn a star, giving her a chance to really shine with her singing and acting skills.

The actress was very popular performing in the 1980s and 90s, and she’s continued to work steadily since then, appearing in TV shows and independent movies. More recently, she’s also become a theatre professor.

The Daily Mail has published rare photos of Quinn, the actor, taken in Los Angeles. Here’s a look at what the star looks like at age 54.

Even decades later, Quinn still sports the eye-catching flame-red hair that helped make her a star.

Quinn has moved away from the short, curly hairstyle she was known for in Annie. She now prefers a longer, straight look with stylish, straight-across bangs and a richer, darker shade of red.

Although Quinn is naturally a brunette, she became famous for her red hair while playing Annie, and she’s continued to keep that color ever since, even though she wore a real hair wig for the role.

The actress exited her car carrying a black bag and a shiny purple cane, with a black backpack on the ground beside her.

She was unmissable in a red-and-black floral patterned minidress with a plunging neckline.

She finished her outfit with a stylish black denim jacket and completed the look with open-toe heels featuring sparkling silver and black straps.

Born in Yardley, Pennsylvania in 1971, Quinn began taking dance lessons at the age of four.

She grew up in Far Hills, New Jersey, which she participated in community theater projects. 

After gaining recognition for her role in Annie, Quinn was nominated for two Golden Globes: one as a rising star and another for best actress in a musical or comedy.

Although both she and her “Annie” costar, Carol Burnett, were nominated for awards, neither of them won that year. While “Annie” is now a beloved classic, when it came out in 1982, critics had mixed feelings about it. The movie’s large budget also meant it didn’t make much money during its first release in theaters.

The Golden Raspberry Awards, known for recognizing the year’s worst films, nominated Annie in several categories: worst picture, director, and screenplay. Quinn received two nominations as well – she lost for worst new star but won the award for worst supporting actress.

I’ve always loved ‘Annie,’ and it’s so great to see how much more popular it’s become over the years. It had a bit of a tough start, but the songs – you know, the ones from the original 1977 musical – are just timeless. They’ve really stuck with people, and I think that’s a big reason why the movie continues to be cherished.

In 2022, Quinn attended the TCM Classic Film Festival in Hollywood to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the movie Annie. The event included a screening of the film followed by a discussion with its star.

The actress described the atmosphere on set as a close-knit family, telling Fox News that her more experienced colleagues felt like aunts and uncles to her.

She described John Huston, the director of The Maltese Falcon, as a grandfatherly figure. He passed away in 1987 at the age of 81. She fondly remembered him always calling her “Aileen darling,” making it feel like a natural part of her name.

She fondly remembered the set as being incredibly warm and friendly. Everyone involved, both the actors and the production team, always put a smile on her face, and she says that feeling continues to this day.

Okay, so get this – she actually said she recognized my queen, Carol Burnett, from a commercial! Can you believe it? Not from the iconic Carol Burnett Show itself, but a commercial! It’s just… hilarious and a little bit shocking, honestly. I mean, who doesn’t know Carol from the show?! But it’s so her, and I love it!

‘We still laugh about that to this day. I had no idea who I was working with, including John Huston,’ Quinn admitted.

Quinn shared that landing the role in the film involved a grueling audition process. She had to audition eight times over nearly a year, competing with thousands of other actresses.

She compared that to musical theater, which might have just ‘three callbacks at most.’ 

Quinn recently had two auditions that sent her to Hollywood. The first involved a group of nine, and after screen tests with her future co-star, Albert Finney (who passed away in 2019 at the age of 82), it was narrowed down to just three competitors.

Following her hit song “Annie,” Quinn began a career in music, releasing her first album, “Bobby’s Girl,” in 1982. She later returned to recording with two more albums released in 2015 and 2019.

Earlier that year, her singing from the musical Annie appeared on the show’s hit soundtrack, which reached the top 40 and eventually went platinum, selling over a million copies according to the Recording Industry Association of America.

Quinn’s rendition of ‘It’s The Hard Knock Life’ remains incredibly popular, largely due to its use as a prominent sample in Jay-Z’s 1998 hit song, ‘Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem).

Quinn is still performing with her band. Recently, she also made a guest appearance on the 2020 revival of the show Will & Grace.

Read More

2026-01-24 01:04