Hayley Mills arrived at the Walt Disney Studio as a precocious 13-year-old. She left it, six pictures later, a poised beauty of 19. Hayley remembers the happiness and heartaches of growing up in Hollywood, separated by work and distance from her native England.

"At first, when I began 'Pollyanna,' my mother and brother and l lived in a Beverly Hills hotel," she said. "It was a fantasyland. There were televisions in every room and the tables were piled with fruit and candy. We were often invited to Walt Disney's home for dinner. It was the most eventful period of my life."

Hayley played the title role of Pollyanna Whittier, an orphan whose irrepressible optimism touches everyone around her. It was only her second picture and she was surrounded by seasoned co-stars like Jane Wyman, Richard Egan, Karl Malden, and Nancy Olson. But Hayley, a ferocious mugger, held her own among such professionals. "David," Richard Egan said to director David Swift after shooting a scene with Hayley, "I've got two chances in that shot - little and none at all." The movie newcomer went on to win a special Academy Award for her performance.

Hayley's next picture was "The Parent Trap." She played identical twins who attempt to reconcile their estranged parents. Although the dual role called for 14-year-old Hayley to sing, dance, and generally clown around, she was often moody off-screen, suffering the pangs of adolescence. "At that time I had no desire to be a child actress," she said. What I really wanted to be was a horsewoman." Yet, with the release of "The Parent Trap," Hayley became the most popular juvenile star in the world.

In "In Search of the Castaways," Hayley emerged as a sweet 16-year-old with a grown-up hairdo, evening dresses, and an on-screen boyfriend.

At 17 and growing more beautiful every day, Hayley starred with Dorothy McGuire in "Summer Magic," playing a widow's daughter who wangles the use of a rent-free house for the family.

Bidding goodbye to little girl roles, 18-year-old Hayley portrayed Nikky Ferri's in "The Moon Spinners," an English lass vacationing in Crete who falls in love with a young man suspected of being a jewel thief. Peter McEnery, 23, was her co-star, and the fellow fortunate enough to give Hayley her first real screen kiss. Her adolescent doldrums were behind her. She and McEnery enjoyed water sports during location filming, and made a sightseeing tour of Athens on their way home.

Hayley was 19 when she made "That Darn Cat," her sixth and last picture for Walt Disney. Occasionally during her non-exclusive contract with the studio, Hayley appeared in films for other producers. She was a recognized actress as well as a comedienne, and in a way had outgrown the limitations of Disney's light-hearted movies. But her parting was friendly and sentimental. "My years with Disney were very special," she said, "which is why I'm glad to be back for 'Parent Trap II.' It's a wonderful opportunity, a marvelous chance to play two parts again, and best of all, to work with the Disney Studio once more."