This 79-Year-Old Actress Was a Child Star Who Lost Her Disney Money and Fought Bulimia & Cancer – See Her Now

The veteran actress endured intense pressure as a child star and began forcing herself to vomit to satisfy adults who didn’t want her to grow up — an ordeal that led to bulimia. Later in life, she was diagnosed with cancer on her birthday; now at 79, she remains active in her acting career.

Her connection to acting began in the most natural way — at home. Surrounded by a family immersed in the arts, the young performer stepped into the film world at age 12, appearing alongside her famous father in 1959’s “Tiger Bay.”

Though still a child, she recalled embracing the experience without fear, saying it simply felt like part of everyday life. With both her sister and father already working in film, and a mother who had given up acting to become a writer, creativity ran through the household.

It was her mother who wrote the novel that inspired “Whistle Down the Wind,” filmed when the actress was just 14. At the time, she limited herself to only two films a year to maintain a sense of normalcy.

Among her most beloved roles were parts in “Pollyanna” and “The Parent Trap.” The performance in “Pollyanna” earned her a Juvenile Oscar — making her the final recipient of the award. That honor placed her among an elite group of just 12 child actors, including legends like Shirley Temple, Judy Garland, and Mickey Rooney.

The English native’s success as a child actress placed her among the most cherished young talents of her time. But with early recognition came new pressures and personal challenges — especially when stepping into adulthood on screen.

Winning the Juvenile Oscar left her in awe. “I still can’t quite believe it!” she said in an interview once, yet the honor did not bring ease or comfort. There was no room for complacency; each new role demanded proof of her abilities. She explained:

“You have to prove what you can do again and again. You never know with each new job if you’re going to succeed or not.”

Though widely admired in her youth, moving into adult roles came with uncertainty. The actress sensed that what audiences loved was the child she no longer was, admitting:

“I didn’t know what to do or what parts to play. It’s a transitional time, and I wasn’t able to do it in private.”

Fame also left her feeling apart from others her age, “I always felt a bit on the outside of other girls who had good friends and shared experiences. With such a different life, she added, “I didn’t have things to share.”

Fame may have set her apart from her peers, but the pressure to stay perfect in the public eye carried painful consequences behind the scenes. As a young girl, the focus shifted to keeping adults pleased — especially those who didn’t want her to grow up.

Terrified of letting them down, she began vomiting after meals to appear smaller and more childlike, which led to bulimia. A columnist in 1964 remarked on her noticeably thinner frame, describing an eighteen-year-old who looked “like the million stashed away for her.”

In the same feature, it was noted that she was “seven pounds thinner” than before, weighing 112 pounds with the comment that her figure was “distributed in the correct places.” At the time, the star admitted:

“I’m trying to shrink my stomach to peanut size.”

The pressure to remain frozen in childhood took a toll, but stepping away from that image came with its own turning point. The actress in question is Hayley Mills, whose older famed sister is actress Juliet Mills.

As she reached adulthood, the need for change became clear. The solution was to escape Disney. When Hayley, the daughter of Sir John Mills and Mary Bell, turned 20, her contract expired, and she chose not to renew it. Leaving Disney was only one part of reclaiming her independence — another disappointment surfaced when she turned 21.

At that point, Hayley was finally granted access to a trust fund that had been created to hold her childhood earnings. But the account held very little. A staggering 91 percent tax, imposed by the British government to help rebuild after the war, had nearly wiped it out.

For years, she tried to challenge the outcome, but her appeal was permanently denied in 1975. Had the ruling gone in her favor, the film star estimated she would have kept around £2 million — worth well over $2.5 million today. “I never saw it,” Hayley said in an interview, accepting what had long passed, she added:

“I knew it was there and one day I would have it, but it was just sort of a dream, and then one day the dream was gone. Occasionally, I think: It would have been nice if I had the freedom to say no.”

The loss of her childhood earnings was a heavy blow, but it wouldn’t be the last time Hayley faced a life-altering moment. Years later, another trial arrived — one that tested her in an entirely different way.

In 2008, on her 62nd birthday, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. The news felt surreal, almost like stepping into a distorted painting. She recalled in another interview:

“My reaction was: This is the biggest challenge I’ve ever had. I’m going to find out what I’m made of, and I probably need this because I’m going to learn a lot.”

That moment changed everything. “It was an enormous shock. Suddenly, I looked out at the world as if I’d never seen it before,” said Haley in one interview. After learning that cancer had affected both breasts, she underwent surgery without delay.

The toll of treatment came swiftly. Within two weeks of her first session, her hair began to fall out. Wanting to take control of the moment, she turned to her son, Jason Lawson. “I got to a point when I thought, ‘To hell with this,’ so he shaved my head!” she remembered.

Even then, she kept her sense of humor and warmth, “I had a marvelous wig and at night I wore a pink woolly bobble hat because my head got cold.”

While maintaining her optimism and kindness, the road ahead was far from easy. Determined to recover, Hayley began chemotherapy — but the reality of it hit harder than she expected. After only three sessions, she made the decision to stop. The star shared:

“It made me feel awful. I was more frightened of the chemo than the cancer. I could feel it draining me and killing me. I felt I was dying.”

Instead of centering her own struggles, Hayley found strength in thinking about those she cared for. She believed it was important to make things easier for loved ones, which, in turn, helped her cope. The experience changed her perspective on time, deepening her appreciation for life and the people around her.

When asked whether she was in remission in one other interview, she said, “Absolutely. Remission sounds like, ‘Oh well, it can come back.’ No. It’s over.”

Now healthy and cancer-free, Hayley credits her recovery to alternative treatments she explored instead. While she stands by her choice, she emphasizes that her approach was deeply personal and may not be right for everyone.

Choosing her own path to healing brought not only restored health, but also a deep sense of peace — one grounded in love, family, and the lessons that only time can teach.

Surrounded by the people who mean the most to her — sister Juliet, sons Crispian Mills and Jason, and longtime partner Firdous Bamji — Hayley embraces joy in the simplest of moments. “I feel like I was waiting my whole life to meet him,” she said of Bamji, her companion of more than twenty years.

Looking back, she spoke candidly about the challenges of balancing motherhood with a demanding career. The veteran actress shared guidance for parents:

“If there’s ever any doubt about taking a job or spending time with your children — do the latter.”

While she remains proud of her two sons, the doting parent admits they faced difficult times in her absence, “They’ve survived, and they’re both wonderful men who I’m incredibly proud of, but they didn’t have an easy time.”

When she was 71, Hayley cherished the present more than ever. She found that age brings clarity. The star appreciated everything more deeply and understood the value of living in the moment — grateful and unafraid to show love to those who mattered most.