I, on the other hand, watched them from age 5 when they were new ~~ she was just 4 years older than me, so in her youthful prime as an actress when I first started filmgoing. I recall Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm & Heidi & The Little Princess: saw the last of these with my cousin Peter, two years younger than me, and remember his suddenly wailing for the whole cinema to hear, "Take me home. It's too sad!" [They didn't.]

How brilliantly she did, having two such disparate successful careers. It was fashionable in some circles to belittle or denigrate her juvenile screen achievements [cf Graham Greene -- not only a lousy novelist, you see, but a dire smartarse of a critic too!]. But just look what a tap-dancer she was at age 6! in the clip included in that NY Times obit linked in OP, of Baby Take A Bow from Stand Up & Cheer.

I hadn't thought of her for years, I suppose. Hadn't even realised still alive. But I find myself taken quite aback by the grief I am feeling.

~M~