Lillian Hellman was an American playwright and screenwriter born in 1905 in New Orleans. She attended college in New York where she worked for a publishing company and met her first husband. Hellman found early success with her play "The Children's Hour" in 1934. Her most famous work, "The Little Foxes" from 1939, explored themes of greed and fascism. Hellman wrote fiercely political dramas throughout her career and received two New York Drama Critics' Circle Awards. She died in 1984 after a prolific career as a writer and outspoken liberal activist.