<P> Identical twins Susan Evers and Sharon McKendrick ( Hayley Mills ) meet at Miss Inch 's Summer Camp for Girls , unaware that they are sisters . Their identical appearance initially creates rivalry , and they pull pranks on each other , culminating in the camp dance being ruined . As punishment , Miss Inch decides that they must live together in the isolated `` Serendipity '' cabin ( and eat together at an `` Isolation Table '' ) for the remainder of the camp season . After discovering that they both come from single - parent homes , they soon realize they are twin sisters and that their parents , Mitchell `` Mitch '' Evers ( Brian Keith ) and Margaret `` Maggie '' McKendrick ( Maureen O'Hara ) , divorced shortly after their birth , with each parent having custody of one of them . The twins , each eager to meet the parent she never knew , decide to switch places . Susan gives Sharon a matching haircut and has her bite her nails . They also take a crash - course getting to know each other while learning about each other 's personalities and ways of life . </P>
<P> Identical twins Susan Evers and Sharon McKendrick ( Hayley Mills ) meet at Miss Inch 's Summer Camp for Girls , unaware that they are sisters . Their identical appearance initially creates rivalry , and they pull pranks on each other , culminating in the camp dance being ruined . As punishment , Miss Inch decides that they must live together in the isolated `` Serendipity '' cabin ( and eat together at an `` Isolation Table '' ) for the remainder of the camp season . After discovering that they both come from single - parent homes , they soon realize they are twin sisters and that their parents , Mitchell `` Mitch '' Evers ( Brian Keith ) and Margaret `` Maggie '' McKendrick ( Maureen O'Hara ) , divorced shortly after their birth , with each parent having custody of one of them . The twins , each eager to meet the parent she never knew , decide to switch places . Susan gives Sharon a matching haircut and has her bite her nails . They also take a crash - course getting to know each other while learning about each other 's personalities and ways of life . </P>
who plays the twins in the parent trap 1961
who plays the twins in the parent trap 1961
Hayley Mills
Hayley Mills