Born on October 7, 1952, in Birmingham, Alabama, she gained fame as a child actress with her role as Scout Finch in the 1962 film "To Kill a Mockingbird." Her performance earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress, making her one of the youngest nominees at that time. Despite her early success, she stepped away from acting, returning briefly in 2005 for the film "Our Very Own." She later became an art restorer and a vocal advocate for literacy and classic films.