Spider-Man’s Original Aunt May Rosemary Harris Marks a Milestone Birthday in Heartwarming New Photos
For a generation of moviegoers, Rosemary Harris will always be Aunt May. The English actress played Peter Parker’s beloved aunt opposite Tobey Maguire across Sam Raimi’s ‘Spider-Man‘ trilogy from 2002 to 2007, and according to Archyde, Raimi cast her without a screen test.
Her time in the role left a lasting impression. Harris was in her 70s at the time and even performed her own stunts in ‘Spider-Man 2’ at the age of 75. She later told the BBC that Raimi was a joy to work with, describing him as sweet and fun rather than the kind of director who stands over actors with a big stick. Now fans are celebrating a major milestone. Harris turned 99 on September 19, and her daughter, actress Jennifer Ehle, shared new photos from the celebration on Instagram,
The images show Harris smiling at a sunlit café table in a blue cardigan and layered necklaces. In another shot, she’s presented with a dessert topped with a lit candle, as a server in a red apron decorated with a Union Jack stands beside her.
Born in Ashby-de-la-Zouch, England, in 1927, Harris has been acting professionally since 1948. She won a Tony Award in 1966 for ‘The Lion in Winter’, earned 9 Tony nominations in total, and received a special Lifetime Achievement Tony in 2019.
Her screen achievements are just as impressive. Harris won an Emmy in 1976 for ‘Notorious Woman’, a Golden Globe in 1978, and an Academy Award nomination for her performance in ‘Tom & Viv’, according to Parade.
She has never really slowed down, either. Just a week shy of turning 91, she joined the Broadway revival of ‘My Fair Lady’ as Mrs. Higgins, succeeding Diana Rigg, and she later appeared in HBO’s ‘The Undoing’ and the comedy ‘Search Party’.
Harris’ bond with her daughter has also played out on screen. The pair co-starred in ‘The Camomile Lawn’ in 1992, with Ehle playing the younger version of Harris’ character, and again in the 1999 historical drama ‘Sunshine’, according to IMDb.
Ehle even appeared as a toddler in a 1973 Broadway revival of ‘A Streetcar Named Desire’, in which her mother played Blanche DuBois. In 2025, Harris supported Ehle at one of her movie premieres, looking prouder than ever, Parade reported. Ehle has spoken warmly about her mother before. In a 2020 interview with The Mirror, she said Harris has an extraordinary group of friends and is adored everywhere she goes.
Harris has continued living life to the fullest after the death of her husband, author John Ehle, in March 2018. In July 2023, at 95, she even joined a SAG-AFTRA picket line in New York City, walking with a cane in support of her fellow performers.
Fans have long made it clear how much she means to them. Parade highlighted several Reddit comments calling her pitch-perfect casting and praising her moving “everybody loves a hero” speech in ‘Spider-Man 2’ as the reason she stands above other versions of the character.
What’s your favorite Rosemary Harris moment as Aunt May in the Spider-Man trilogy?
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