Ona Munson was an actress best known for her role as "Belle Watling" in the film, "Gone with the Wind". Ona Munson was born Owena Wolcott on June 16, 1903 in Portland, Oregon. During her early years, Munson worked
in vaudeville and in ballet. In 1927, Munson married director and writer, Edward Buzzell. The marriage would last
for ten years. She starred on Broadway in "No, No Nanette". Munson presented the song, "You're the Cream in My Coffee" in the Broadway show, "Hold Everything". During the 1930's Munson worked successfully in radio.
Munson made her film debut in the 1928 comedy, "The Head of the Family" with William Russell. Munson's next film role wouldn't come until two years later when she appeared in the musical, "Going Wild". The following year, Munson starred in the films, "The Hot Heiress", "Broadminded" with Bela Lugosi and Thelma Todd and the crime drama, "Five Star Final" with Edward G. Robinson, Marian Marsh and Boris Karloff. Munson next appeared in the films, "His Exciting Night", "Dramatic School" with Lana Turner, "Scandal Sheet" with Otto Kruger and the drama, "Legion of Lost Flyers" with Richard Arlen.
In 1939, Munson starred as "Belle Watling" in the American classic, "Gone with the Wind". The film also starred Clark Gable, Vivien Leigh, George Reeves and Hattie McDaniel and was directed by Victor Fleming. It was based on the 1936 novel by Margaret Mitchell. "Gone with the Wind" was nominated with an impressive number of fourteen Academy Awards with eight wins including, "Best Actress in a Leading Role", "Best Director", "Best Picture" and "Best Writing, Screenplay". That same year, Munson appeared in the crime drama, "The Big Guy" with Jackie Cooper. The next three years, Munson starred in, "Wagons Westward" (1940) with George Hayes, "Lady from Louisiana" (1941) with John Wayne, "Wild Geese Calling" (1941) with Henry Fonda, "The Shanghai Gesture" (1941) with Gene Tierney, "Drums of the Congo" (1942) and the western, "Idaho" (1943) with Roy Rogers.