Rita Hayworth
Today we celebrate another birthday; Rita Hayworth's. Had she still been alive, she would have turned 100 years old.
As I had never written a biography on her on my Instagram, I decided to write one today to celebrate this great occasion.
Hayworth was one of the most glamourous Hollywood actresses and she maintained her beauty throughout her life. I love watching her dance, she was truely one of the best.
Hayworth's Biography:
Margarita Carmen Cansino was born 17th October 1918 in Brooklyn, New York to a Spanish father and Irish English mother. She was the eldest of three.
She took dancing lessons ever since she could walk, because her father wanted her to be a dancer like his father.
In 1923, before she turned five, she was featured in a Broadway musical.
In 1926, at the age of eight, she was featured in a Warner Brothers film called La Fiesta.
In 1927, she moved to Hollywood with her family in the hopes of getting dance features in films. Meanwhile, her father opened a dance studio and taught the likes of James Cagney.
In 1931, and after the family business had failed, her father partnered with her in an act called The Dancing Cansinos. They toured Mexico and their act was a great tourist attraction.
In the mid 1930s, she started dancing with her father in nightclubs. On one of her nights at the club, the head of Fox saw their act and decided to sign her up for a short-term contract, under the name Rita Cansino. She was then featured in many small roles until her contract was over.
In 1936 she was signed with Columbia and her name was changed to Rita Hayworth.
In 1937, she married her first husband, Edward C. Judson, who was behind her makeover.
In 1939, she had her first small major role in Only Angels Have Wings opposite Cary Grant. The film recieved much success that Hayworth became Columbia's new official star.
In 1941, she was loaned to Warner Brothers and starred in Strawberry Blonde opposite James Cagney. After finding that the film was a box office success, Warner Brothers tried to buy her off but Columbia refused.
In the same year she found even more success through Columbia when she starred opposite Fred Astaire that resulted in a huge demand for the duo.
In 1942, she got a divorce.
In 1943, she married her second husband, actor Orson Welles and had a girl with him.
In 1944, she had top billing in the film Cover Girl opposite Gene Kelly and she became the first of a few women to dance with both Astaire and Kelly on screen, which is the highest privilege a dancer could get.
"I guess the only jewels of my life, were the pictures I made with Fred Astaire. And Cover Girl, too"
In 1947, she got a divorce.
In 1949, she broke off her contract with Columbia and married her third husband, Prince Aly Khan. Her wedding garnered international press coverage.
They had only one daughter.
In 1953, she got divorced and went back to Hollywood, starring in another major success - after Gilda, 1946 - opposite Glenn Ford. She then married her fourth husband, actor/singer Dick Haymes and left the Hollywood scene for sometime.
In 1955, she got a divorce.
In 1957, she made her return in film but left Columbia for the last time.
In 1958, she married for the fifth and last time to producer James Hill.
In 1961, she got a divorce.
Throughtout the 1960s and 1970s she continued to make films.
In 1974, both her brothers died - a week apart, which devastated her and drove her to drink heavily.
In 1987, she died from complications with Alzheimer's disease.
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Reading about her life and her relationships for this biography was very depressing, especially reading about Charles Heston's witnessing her husband humiliate her infront of him and Rex Harrison. Also Orson Welles's encounter with her, when she was first showing symptoms of Alzheimer's.
She looked glamorous on the screen but led a sad life off it.
Anyway she once said:
So I didn't include all the drama hehe
Anyway she once said:
"Whatever you write about me, don't make it sad"
So I didn't include all the drama hehe
What Are Your Favourite Hayworth Films?
Unfortunately I haven't watched enough to make a list but I'll try anyway:
- You Were Never Lovelier, 1942
- Cover Girl, 1944
- The Loves of Carmen, 1948
This is very sad...for some reason I always felt I couldn’t see her pictures after the 1950’s because her expression always felt sad to me, but I always thought it was only my imagination because of the reason why she and Prince Alt Khan divorced...I guess it wasn’t. I feel she seemed the happiest when she was married to Orson Welles. They always seemed genuinely happy in photos...but who knows.
ReplyDeleteShe’s one of my favourites for musicals, she was the best female dancer there was, and she always had amazing hair which made me want to dye my hair red...one day, one day.
My favourite film is :
- The Loves of Carmen.
And I think Gilda would probably also be on the list had it not been for the endless dance sequence hahha.
Yes, she said Orson Welles was the love of her life, but unfortunatley she wasn't as important to him as his lifestyle...
DeleteYes she made the most complicated dances look so easy.
You really need to be a redhead, it suits you the most!
Hahaha we really need to watch it again. Maybe next month!