How did Maureen Hingert make her way from Sri Lanka to Hollywood? Career explored as actress dies at 88

Maureen Hingert, professionally known as Jana Davi, passed away at the age of 88 in Huntington Hospital, Pasadena, due to liver failure. The Sri Lankan actress was known for her role in films such as The King and I, Gun Fever, and Gunmen From Laredo. Hingert's ticket to Hollywood was secured when she was just 18 years old.

Back in 1955, Hingert represented her country as Miss Ceylon in the 1955 Miss Universe beauty pageant, which was held at Long Beach, California. It was also the first Miss Universe pageant that was televised. She held the title of second runner-up. She is considered to be one of the first women from Sri Lanka to make a name for herself in Hollywood. A photo from Hingert's photoshoot in Gun Fever was published by Playboy magazine in 1957, making her the first and only Sri Lankan woman to be featured in the magazine to date.

Keep reading to learn more about the Sri Lankan starlet who helped put the South Asian island country of Ceylon on the map.

Maureen Hingert's career over the years

After Maureen Hingert won the crown for second runner up in the 1955 Miss Universe pageant, she stayed back in California and received a contract with Universal International Studios for a role in Pillars of the Sky. Not only did she appear in films, but she was also a dancer in different venues in Los Angeles.

Here is a list of all the films in, Maureen Hingert a.k.a. Jana Devi was featured:

• The King and I
• Fort Bowie
• Gun Fever
• The Adventures of Hiram Holiday
• Moroccan Halk Moth
• Pillars of the Sky
• Dangerous Search
• Gunmen from Laredo
• The Rawhide Trail

She also appeared in the British TV Series called Captain David Grief. She played the role of Anura.

In addition to the films Maureen made in Hollywood, she also starred in two films in her home country. These include Circus Girl and Elephant Walk, both directed by William Dieterle, and released in 1954.

After appearing in nine Hollywood films and one television series, Maureen called it quits. She stopped acting in the early 1960s and focused on her personal life, taking care of her children.

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According to her daughter, Maureen Hingert passed away on June 29, 2025, because of liver failure, in California. Her daughter, Marisa Zamparelli, described her mother's death as:

"It was a beautiful and peaceful passing."

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