At age 10, with no prior acting experience, Mary Badham was chosen for the role of Scout Finch in To Kill A Mockingbird, which earned her an Oscar nomination for best supporting actress. She maintained contact with Gregory Peck, occasionally accompanying him on lecture tours. With an interest in spreading the message of tolerance and compassion in Harper Lee’s book on which the film was based, she has spoken to audiences across the country and internationally. Badham relates her experience working with the famous actor and why she waited until she was older to read the book.