Gloria Swanson: The Iconic Star of Sunset Boulevard and Her Legendary Life
Explore the life of Gloria Swanson, star of Sunset Boulevard, and discover the eccentric personality behind her unforgettable screen presence.
Early career and rise in silent cinema
Gloria Swanson was a success during the silent film era , and also became a fashion icon . One of the most sought-after actresses, she managed to maintain her glamour even after going bankrupt. Her career began with a few small roles, the most famous of which was in a Chaplin film . But Gloria wanted to shine, and becoming one of the actresses of the famous tramp would not do much for her career. She decided to pursue dramas and became their queen . In the 1920s, she was a unanimous favorite with her extravagant and self-possessed characters . And with the arrival of talkies , she remained popular for some time, acting in successful films such as The Trespasser (1929) and What a Widow! (1930). With the arrival of the 1930s, her career went into decline.
Troubled marriages and personal traumas
Gloria married several times . The first time was at the age of 17, to actor Wallace Beery . The marriage was a parade of horrors, beginning on her wedding night, when she was raped by her husband. After becoming pregnant, she was forced to have the child removed, also by Beery. In a terrible situation, the couple finally separated in 1919, two years after their wedding. By contract, they continued to work together.
Scandals, court and adoption
Her second marriage was to Equity Pictures chairman Herbert K. Somborn . With him, Gloria had Gloria Somborn . The marriage ended shortly after, and the actress was soon in court. Her husband accused her of adultery, citing in the lawsuit an orgy that the actress had participated in with thirteen men. The report named names such as Rudolph Valentino and Cecil B. DeMille . Nothing was proven, and the studios forced her to accept a morals clause in order to renew her contract. During the lawsuit, she adopted a boy , whom she named Joseph .
Lost Films and Marriage to an Aristocrat
Many of her films, as well as thousands of other silent films, have been lost . One that has been lost is Madame Sans-Gêne , a film directed by Léonce Perret and set in historic locations where Napoleon had visited. It was during the filming of this film that she met her third husband, Henri , an English aristocrat . The two married in 1925, and Gloria became the first film actress to marry a nobleman .
Joseph Kennedy: Romance, Betrayal, and Bankruptcy
It was during her marriage to Henri (who spent much of his time in Europe) that Gloria began an affair with Joseph Kennedy , John ‘s father . A well-known scoundrel, he was an illegal liquor smuggler during the Prohibition period and also managed to make money at Gloria’s expense. The actress received countless gifts from Joseph, without realizing that the money came out of her own account . This ended up causing her to have financial problems , until she later declared bankruptcy. Also a business partner, Joseph took over all of the actress’s personal and business affairs, leaving her on the brink of despair.
Pregnancy, bigamy and more scandals
Thinking she was divorced from Henri, Gloria got involved with Michael Farmer , becoming pregnant by him. Confusion ensued when the actress realized that her previous divorce had not been finalized and she had become a bigamist by taking vows with Michael.
Romance with Herbert Marshall
The media went into a frenzy when the actress began an affair with British actor Herbert Marshall , who was married at the time. The actress truly fell in love with him, who, for his part, never divorced his wife. The newspapers covered the affair explicitly. Finally, three years later, she left him. In her autobiography, Swanson mentions that she was terribly in love with the actor.
Triumphant return in “Sunset Boulevard”
In 1950, Gloria was offered the role of a fading actress in Sunset Boulevard , directed by Billy Wilder . The role of a fading actress had been offered to several actresses from the silent film period, including Mary Pickford and Pola Negri , and had been rejected by all of them. Gloria, who was then 51 years old , showed off her good shape , and her praised performance earned her an Oscar nomination that year.
Natural beauty and healthy lifestyle
Her good shape at 51 years old caught people’s attention, and soon people wanted to know the secret to keeping her face wrinkle-free . Gloria was a fan of healthy eating , and was able to take her own lunch box with healthy food to a big party or meeting with friends. And she was not shy about opening her lunch box at the most elegant restaurant. In her lunch box, she only had the foods recommended by her nutritionist . She also had a set time to sleep and wake up and exercised daily . In the video below, made in the 70s, we can see that her care had an effect.
Last marriages and legacy with William Duffy
After a fourth marriage in 1945 (to William N. Davey ) and their separation a year later, Gloria would remain single for thirty years . Her last marriage would not come until 1976, to the writer William Duffy . The two had met in 1965 and seemed to get along very well. They shared an enthusiasm for macrobiotic foods and traveled together to talk about their experiences, releasing a book on the subject in 1975. Duffy also helped her write her autobiography .
Tributes, longing and a film rediscovered.
The actress received two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame . A year before her death, she sold her art collection , which included copies of films, photographs and private correspondence. She had long wanted to see Beyond the Rocks (1922), a film in which she starred alongside Rudolph Valentino, but at the time it was considered lost . It was only in 2004 that a private collector in the Netherlands revealed that he had a copy in good condition. Gloria would never see the film again, dying in 1983 at the age of 84 .
Mais sobre a autora
