Disney Legend Hayley Mills recently celebrated her 80th birthday. During a new interview on the Rosebud podcast, the actress reflected on the massive fortune she lost to the British government. Mills earned millions as a child star in classics like The Parent Trap. However, she turned 21 to find her bank account virtually empty. She described the chilling moment she realized the “tax man” had already seized her childhood earnings.
A crushing 91% “surtax” caused this devastating financial blow. Her father, Sir John Mills, placed her earnings into a trust for protection. He wanted to shield her from the pressures of Hollywood. “It was all put into a trust fund, because super tax was 90% in those days, so they had to do something,” Mills explained during the interview. Unfortunately, the Inland Revenue targeted that specific legal structure. This technicality allowed the state to apply the highest possible tax bracket to her childhood labor.
The Green Baize Tablecloth
Mills gave a vivid description of the day she learned her money was gone. She went to collect her earnings from her solicitor, Stanley Passmore. “Instead of being given the key to the door, I was handed an envelope across a green baize tablecloth by Stanley,” Mills recalled. The letter inside was from the government. She described it as the Inland Revenue basically saying, “Thank you. You owe us 90% of your earnings.” Take a look at the entire interview below:
The shock of the moment stayed with her for decades. She remembered being confused by the legal jargon in the letter. “I said, ‘Well, what does this mean? I don’t understand,'” Mills said. Her lawyer reportedly laughed in response. He told her, “Well, I think it means you have to move to America.” She now views that legal team with deep suspicion. “He was a crook. He didn’t give a flying Dutchman,” she stated plainly.
A Legal Battle Against “Pirates”
The legal battle to save her money lasted for years. Her team argued the 91% rate was a form of double taxation. She even won a brief victory in 1972 when a judge originally ruled in her favor. However, the House of Lords later overturned that decision. That final ruling allowed the state to strip away millions she earned from her Disney hits. Mills compared the government’s actions to a “horde of pirates” plundering her life’s work.
Despite the heartbreak, Mills remains glowing and positive at 80. She built a successful career in theater and television after her Disney years. She told host Gyles Brandreth that she chooses to focus on her family rather than the lost millions. “I certainly had my struggles,” Mills admitted. “But I think we all face struggles growing up.” Today, she is a proud grandmother who remains an iconic figure in Disney history. Her resilience continues to inspire fans around the world.
To keep up to date on all the latest Disney news and more, be sure to follow Disney Dorks on Facebook!