Butterfly McQueen

Thelma “Butterfly” McQueen was born on 7 January 1911 in Tampa Florida (no birth time available). She is most famous for her role as squeaky voiced Prissy, (the house slave in Gone with the Wind who claimed to know everything about birthing babies but was reduced to a quivering wreck when Melanie went into a difficult labour). McQueen was born with Jupiter in Scorpio and Saturn in Aries.

Before we go any further, please follow me on social media. Subscribe to my newsletter if you would like to learn more about astrology from a fully qualified professional. I’m active on Facebook (@growingpainsadolescence), Twitter and Instagram. If you’d like to have a chart reading, please book via my products page. My book “Growing Pains” is also available for purchase here. Don’t forget there are lots of astrology conferences happening all over the world. I update my website with new articles on Monday and Saturdays.

She had planned to be a nurse but was encouraged to give acting a try. Her stage nickname came from a dance performance in Midsummer Night’s Dream.

During the filming of Gone with the Wind, transiting Jupiter made a series of single-shot conjunctions to her natal planets in Capricorn. Although the movie would make her famous, she did not enjoy the part because it was demeaning to African Americans. She also found herself typecast as a maid–which she came to resent. “I didn’t mind being funny,” she said “But I didn’t like being stupid.”

Gone With the Wind Cinema Release

A few years later, as Jupiter made a series of squares to the same natal planets, Gone with the Wind was released in cinemas, garnering an unprecedented number of awards. The entire cast was catapulted to stardom. Unfortunately for the Black actors, they were subjected to the segregation laws of Atlanta. They were not permitted to enjoy the same red carpet treatment as the white cast members.

There is a slight comfort in that Hattie McDaniel won Best Supporting actress as “Mammy”. Also a young Martin Luther King sang in the youth choir that evening.

Sadly, Butterfly McQueen died in 1995 from burns sustained in a kerosene heater accident.

Full “Gone With the Wind: The Zodiacal Parade” article here

Podcast for “Gone With the Wind: The Zodiacal Parade” here

Full “The Search For Scarlett” article here

Copyright: Alex Trenoweth, 2014