Thaindian News

The Sound of Music immortalized the von Trapp family and their young governess Maria and with them Julie Andrews, Christopher Plummer, and Heather Menzies became household names. Another person who is identified with her character from the film is Charmian Carr, the woman who played Liesl in the movie.

Charmian Farnon, or Charmian Carr, 66, was born December 27, 1942 to Vaudeville actress Rita Oehman and musician Brian Farnon. Her parents named her Charmian from a character in the Shakespearean play Antony and Cleopatra. Her mom Rita made her audition for a role in The Sound of Music which also starred Julie Andrews, Christopher Plummer, Nicholas Hammond, Heather Menzies, Duane Chase, Angela Cartwright, Debbie Turner, and Kym Karath. At the time Charmian was a college going girl who had also taken up some work when Rita made her audition.

The director of The Sound of Music decided Farnon was a long last name for her and after choosing form single syllable last names, she decided that Carr would be her preferred last name on showbiz. She says working on the film was a memorable experience and that she particularly remembers sliding through a window in the gazebo scene which had hurt her but she had to shoot with the pain.

Her most famous appearance in the movie was the song “You are 16, going on 17″ as Liesl with the character Rolf. Charmian was married to Jay Brent in May, 1967 and the marriage lasted till 1991. She now owns an interior decorating company and her clients include Micheal Jackson. She has also authored two books Forever Liesl and Letters to Liesl.