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Natalie Wood: 25 Unpublished Photos

EXCLUSIVE: Never-Seen Natalie Wood Photos

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EXCLUSIVE: Never-Seen Natalie Wood Photos

Fifty years ago, on October 18, 1961, Natalie Wood debuted in one of her most iconic roles: Maria, the 20th-century twist on Shakespeare's tragically lovelorn Juliet, in the big-screen version of West Side Story. That Wood could nail the tricky mix of effervescence and anguish the role required was no surprise -- after all, at just 23 years old, she was already a Hollywood veteran, an Oscar-nominated star whose astonishing talent had been honed since the age of 4. And at nearly every stage of her career -- her early days as a cute contract moppet; her teenage Method experiments inspired by Rebel Without a Cause; her emergence as a powerful leading lady wooing Warren Beatty and Steve McQueen -- LIFE magazine's photographers were there, capturing Wood's talent and beauty as they blossomed over the years. Not all those many rolls of film could make it to print -- but now, in celebration of West Side Story's golden anniversary, LIFE.com presents the best never-before-published photos of its radiant star. Pictured: An unseen frame from 1963 by LIFE's John Dominis, who was on assignment to shadow actor Steve McQueen but, in this moment, was apparently distracted by his lovely co-star.