In 1958, Susan Hayward gave one of the most powerful performances of her career in I Want to Live!, a gripping crime drama directed by Robert Wise. The film is based on the true story of Barbara Graham, a woman convicted of murder and executed in California’s gas chamber in 1955.
Hayward portrayed Graham as a complex, flawed, yet deeply human figure—a woman with a troubled past who insisted on her innocence until the very end. Her performance was raw and emotional, perfectly capturing Graham’s tough, cynical exterior alongside her moments of vulnerability and fear as her execution approached.
The film was both a critical and commercial success, praised for its unflinching look at capital punishment and the American justice system. Hayward’s role is widely seen as one of the most compelling in Hollywood history, earning her the Academy Award for Best Actress in 1959. This win solidified her reputation as one of the era’s most gifted dramatic actresses.
I Want to Live! remains a highlight of Hayward’s career and a classic example of Hollywood’s late-1950s shift toward gritty, socially conscious storytelling.