Lots of little girls have a tough time as they pass through their awkward age on the way to becoming young ladies. But for Margaret O'Brien it has been especially hard. At 4, when she acted an English war orphan (above), she established herself as a brilliant child movie star. Ever since, she has been so vividly remembered for her freckles, pigtails, tilted nose, wistful eyes and gaminlike cuteness that everbody still imagines her that way.
Now at 20 Margaret (see cover) wants to play roles that show her as she really is: beautiful and glamorous. She has made only three films since she was 13, but she is carving out a new career for herself as a highly capable \TV actress. The trouble is that producers still cast her as a sweet teen-ager or a saad little slavey.

To make herself feel more grown-up Margaret loves to wear expensive and exotic clothes, chalky Italian make-up and chic hairdos. But knowing how TV producers picture her, she keeps another complete wardrobe of plain, little-girl outfits to wear for casting directors and TV rehearsal. In her next television acting role on June 25 for the NBC Wagon Train series she will portray a demure country girl who adores her dying father.
Margaret does not have to work for a living. She owns the Los Angeles apartment house where she and her mother live and on her next birthday she will take over a $250,000 trust fund built up in her early starring days. Not interested in marriage at the moment, she says, "I keep changing my mind about the kind of man I'd like. I'll be fickle forever, I guess."

Black and white photos accompanying the article: 1. Half page of Margaret in a low cut gown- IN A SLINKY DRESS Margaret achieves her ambition to look grownup, sophisticated and sinuous. 2. Eighth page of Margaret as the war orphan with dollar standing in rubble- HER FIRST HIT WAS- "JOURNEY FOR MARGARET 3. Sixteenth page of Margaret and Judy Garland dancing and singing- At 6 Margaret with Judy Garland capered in film Meet Me in St. Louis. 4. Sixteenth page of Margaret with fingers holding her mouth open wide showing her teeth- AT 7 she amused herself by showing her uppers. Later she wore braces. 5. Sixteenth page of Margaret being held by Ken Murray- At 13 she sang and swapped jokes with Comic Ken Murray on TV show. 6. Sixth page of Margaret in car with her agent- WITH HER AGENT Arthur Kennard she rides home from TV lot, arousing curiosity of passers-by. 7. Half page of Margare on bed drinking tea while her mother holds up two dresses- SELECTING WARDROBE to wear to TV studio she confers with her mother, Gladys and sips tea. 8. Quarter page of Margaret reading ta script- ON SET NEAR PROP WHISKEY BOTTLE SHE STUDIES "WAGON TRAIN" LINES. Cover color full page photo of Margaret in low cut pink gown- HOW THE GIRL'S GROWN: MARGARET O'BRIEN