Donna Reed
ActingAbout Donna Reed
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Donna Reed (born Donna Belle Mullenger; January 27, 1921 – January 14, 1986) was an American film and television actress and producer. Her career spanned more than 40 years, with performances in more than 40 films. She is well known for her role as Mary Hatch Bailey in Frank Capra's 1946 film It's a Wonderful Life. In 1953 she received the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance as Lorene Burke in the war drama From Here to Eternity. Reed is known for her work in television, notably as Donna Stone in the sitcom The Donna Reed Show (1958–66). She received numerous Emmy Award nominations for this role and the Golden Globe Award for Best TV Star in 1963.
Donna Reed Movies & Career Overview
The filmography of Donna Reed reflects a strong mix of popular and critically appreciated roles. Across 50 major appearances, the actor has built a reputation through performances in multiple genres and storytelling styles.
Dominant Genre
A large portion of Donna Reed's work falls within the Drama genre, where audiences tend to respond most strongly to their on-screen presence.
Success Ratio
Approximately 54% of Donna Reed's films maintain ratings above 6.5, indicating a consistent level of audience approval.
One of the most highly rated entries in their career remains Rainbow 'Round My Shoulder, which stands out as a key performance.
Best Donna Reed Movies Ranked
Must-watch hits from Donna Reed's career based on audience ratings.
Full Filmography
Every movie Donna Reed has appeared in, with audience ratings and verdicts.
| Year | Movie | Character | Success | More |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Say Hey, Willie Mays! | Self (archive video) | Average | Similar → |
| 2022 | Rat Pack | Self (archive footage) | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1997 | Christmas Unwrapped: The History of Christmas | Mary Bailey (archive footage) | Average | Similar → |
| 1987 | James Stewart: A Wonderful Life | Self (archive footage) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1983 | Deadly Lessons | Miss Wade | Average | Similar → |
| 1979 | The Best Place to Be | Sheila Callahan | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1960 | Pepe | Donna Reed | Average | Similar → |
| 1958 | The Whole Truth | Carol Poulton | Average | Similar → |
| 1956 | Beyond Mombasa | Ann Wilson | Hit | Similar → |
| 1956 | Backlash | Karyl Orton | Hit | Similar → |
| 1956 | The Benny Goodman Story | Alice Hammond | Average | Similar → |
| 1956 | Ransom! | Edith Stannard | Hit | Similar → |
| 1955 | The Far Horizons | Sacajawea | Average | Similar → |
| 1954 | They Rode West | Laurie MacKaye | Hit | Similar → |
| 1954 | The Last Time I Saw Paris | Marion Ellswirth | Average | Similar → |
| 1954 | Three Hours to Kill | Laurie Mastin | Flop | Similar → |
| 1953 | Gun Fury | Jennifer Ballard | Average | Similar → |
| 1953 | From Here to Eternity | Alma 'Lorene' Burke | Hit | Similar → |
| 1953 | The Caddy | Kathy Taylor | Average | Similar → |
| 1953 | Raiders of the Seven Seas | Alida | Average | Similar → |
| 1953 | Trouble Along the Way | Alice Singleton | Average | Similar → |
| 1952 | Hangman's Knot | Molly Hull | Hit | Similar → |
| 1952 | Rainbow 'Round My Shoulder | Donna Reed | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1952 | Scandal Sheet | Julie Allison | Hit | Similar → |
| 1951 | Saturday's Hero | Melissa McCabe | Average | Similar → |
| 1950 | Screen Actors | Self (uncredited) | Average | Similar → |
| 1949 | Chicago Deadline | Rosita Jean D'Ur | Hit | Similar → |
| 1948 | Beyond Glory | Ann Daniels | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1947 | Green Dolphin Street | Marguerite Patourel | Average | Similar → |
| 1946 | It's a Wonderful Life | Mary Hatch | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1946 | Faithful in My Fashion | Jean "Chunky" Kendrick | Hit | Similar → |
| 1945 | They Were Expendable | Lt. Sandy Davyss | Hit | Similar → |
| 1945 | The Picture of Dorian Gray | Gladys Hallward | Hit | Similar → |
| 1944 | Gentle Annie | Mary Lingen | Average | Similar → |
| 1944 | See Here, Private Hargrove | Carol Holiday | Hit | Similar → |
| 1944 | Twenty Years After | (archive footage) | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1943 | Thousands Cheer | Customer in Red Skelton Skit | Average | Similar → |
| 1943 | The Man from Down Under | Mary Wilson | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1943 | Dr. Gillespie's Criminal Case | Marcia Bradburn | Average | Similar → |
| 1943 | The Human Comedy | Bess Macauley | Average | Similar → |
| 1943 | Sucker Bait | Geraldine - Waitress | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1942 | Eyes in the Night | Barbara Lawry | Average | Similar → |
| 1942 | Apache Trail | Rosalia Martinez | Hit | Similar → |
| 1942 | Calling Dr. Gillespie | Marcia Bradburn | Hit | Similar → |
| 1942 | Mokey | Anthea Delano | Hit | Similar → |
| 1942 | The Courtship of Andy Hardy | Melodie Nesbit | Average | Similar → |
| 1942 | The Bugle Sounds | Sally Hanson | Hit | Similar → |
| 1941 | Babes on Broadway | Secretary (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1941 | Shadow of the Thin Man | Molly Ford | Hit | Similar → |
| 1941 | The Get-Away | Maria Theresa 'Terry' O'Reilly | Average | Similar → |
Donna Reed - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best movie of Donna Reed?
According to audience ratings, the best movie starring Donna Reed is "Rainbow 'Round My Shoulder" with a rating of 10.0/10.
How many movies has Donna Reed acted in?
Donna Reed has been featured in at least 50 major films throughout their career.
What are some other popular movies by Donna Reed?
Other notable films include "Rat Pack", "It's a Wonderful Life", and "Beyond Glory".