A lifelong registered Republican, she endorsed Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1952. She also appeared at the 1953 Republican Rally.
Among the parts that Hayward was considered for but did not play are Gold Diggers in Paris (1938)_ (played by Rosemary Lane), Three Cheers for the Irish (1940) (Virginia Grey), Murder, He Says (1945) (Helen Walker), Forever Amber (1947) (Linda Darnell), Anna Lucasta (1949) (Paulette Goddard), Stella (1966) (Ann Sheridan), Band of Angels (1957) (Yvonne De Carlo), The Seventh Sin (1957) (Eleanor Parker), The Wayward Bus (1957) (Jayne Mansfield),
Gave birth to fraternal twin boys, Timothy Barker and Gregory Barker, on February 19, 1945. The father is first husband, Jess Barker.
Hayward was scheduled to star in a Ross Hunter-produced remake of Stella Dallas (1937), but the film was canceled because the "women's pictures" were no longer box-office.
Her first marriage to actor Jess Barker was a stormy one and ended with a bitter custody battle of her twin sons and a suicide attempt by Susan. Her second to rancher Eaton Chalkley was a long and happy one until he died suddenly of hepatitis nine years later. She left Hollywood for five years in deep mourning, returning in 1971.
Her footprints at Grauman's Chinese Theatre are the only ones set in gold dust.
In Italy, almost all of her films were dubbed by either Lidia Simoneschi or Rosetta Calavetta. She was occasionally dubbed by Dhia Cristiani.
Interred at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church, Carrollton, Georgia, USA.
Measurements: 36 1/2-26-35 1/2 (as noted in "Hollywood Studio Magazine), (Source: Celebrity Sleuth magazine)
Replaced an ailing Barbara Stanwyck in Heat of Anger (1972) (TV), which was to have been a pilot for a TV series to be called "Fitzgerald and Pride."
Reportedly did not get on at all with Bette Davis during the filming of Where Love Has Gone (1964).
She portrayed an alcoholic in three films, Smash-Up: The Story of a Woman (1947), My Foolish Heart (1949) and I'll Cry Tomorrow (1955)) and was nominated for an Oscar for each performance.
Took over the ballsy role of stage star Helen Lawson in Valley of the Dolls (1967) in 1967 after Judy Garland was fired.
Was born on the same day, and same place (Brooklyn N.Y) as singer Lena Horne .
Was diagnosed with brain cancer, allegedly the result of being exposed to dangerous radioactive toxins on location in Utah while making The Conqueror (1956). All the leads John Wayne, Agnes Moorehead, John Hoyt, Pedro Armendáriz, Hayward and the director Dick Powell died of cancer. The case is still a scandal.
Was one of many starlets in 1939 who auditioned for the part of Scarlett O'Hara in Gone with the Wind (1939).
Was the original choice to play Margo Channing in All About Eve (1950), but was dropped from the project after being considered too young. The part was then given to Claudette Colbert before being given to Bette Davis, who went on to receive a Best Actress Oscar nomination for her performance.