Natalie Wood would have turned 88 on July 20, and nearly 45 years after her death, fans are still finding new ways to celebrate the beloved Hollywood icon. From movie marathons to heartfelt tributes on social media, fans are remembering what it was about Wood and her work that continues to inspire them today.

A post on the Natalie Wood Instagram page shared photos from the star’s 21st birthday party, which was hosted by Frank Sinatra and her husband, Robert Wagner.

The caption read, “Beyond the screen was the radiant smile, infectious laughter, and genuine kindness that made everyone around her adore her.”

One fan commented, “A gorgeous woman if ever there was one. Celebrating with a film festival!”

On Facebook, another fan shared, “Happy birthday Natalie, always loved and remembered…she was an amazing actress.”

Someone else on Facebook added, “Loved her so much throughout her career. She was my idol.”

Quite a few fans of Wood’s noted they would be celebrating her birthday by re-watching one of her movies, or several of them.

For some of Wood’s fans, that means revisiting her work in West Side Story. For others, it’s Splendor in the Grass, Rebel Without a Cause, or Love with the Proper Stranger.

By the time she turned 30, Wood had already earned three Academy Award nominations. This is an impressive feat achieved by only a handful of other actors in Oscar history.

While fans celebrated by revisiting Wood’s films, her daughter, Natasha Gregson Wagner, marked the occasion in a deeply personal way.

Gregson Wagner launched a Substack page she named After the Flower, where she will share “personal essays on scent, memory, family, and the invisible things that shape us.” The page launch began with an essay about nostalgic keepsakes and the love Wood had for Wagner.

Her mother’s birthday and the launch of her Substack also coincide with the first anniversary of launching her company, L’Amour Mere.

The concept of the company, which sells several fragrances, including one named “Natalie,” was inspired by Wood and her iconic scent. The name L’Amour Mere means “a mother’s love” in French and reflects the precious childhood memories and enduring love that Wagner has for her mother and grandmother.

Nearly nine decades after Wood’s birth, fans continue to honor her through the films that made her a legend. At the same time, Gregson Wagner is preserving her mother’s memory in a more personal way. She’s turning to stories, scent, and the enduring love that keeps her connected to her mother.

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