Eleonora Duse
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Eleonora Duse (October 3, 1858–April 21, 1924), was an Italian actress, often known simply as Duse.
Early life, acting career
She was born in Vigevano and entered acting (her family's profession) as a child. She came to fame in Italian versions of rôles made famous by Sarah Bernhardt. As an adult she toured Europe and America, and was particularly associated with the plays of Gabriele d'Annunzio.
In 1879, while in Naples, she met journalist Mattino Cafiero, and became involved in a fast paced love affair with him. However, less than a year later, while she was in mid-pregnancy, he left her. The baby did not survive birth, and shortly thereafter Cafiero died also. Duse then joined Caesare Rossi's theater company, and met actor Teobaldi Checci, and the two married in 1881. By 1885, the couple had one daughter, but divorced following her becoming involved in an affair with another actor named Flavio Ando. [link]
By this time, her career was in full swing and her popularity began to climb. She travelled on tour to South America, and upon her return a year later she formed her own company. In 1895 she met Gabriele d'Annuzio, and the two became involved romantically while collaborating professionally. Duse and d'Annunzio became involved in a furious fight after he gave the lead role in the play La Città morta to actress Sarah Bernhardt instead of Duse. The affair ended almost immediately.
By 1909, Duse was involved in a bisexual affair with feminist Lena Polletti, who was the lover to writer Sibilla Aleramo. [link] The affair was short lived, and she was rumored to have become involved romantically with dancer Isadora Duncan, although that has never been confirmed beyond a doubt. She was with Duncan for several weeks at the seaside resort in Viareggio in 1913 shortly after a tragic accident in Duncan's family. [link]
She became well known and respected for her assistance of young actors and actresses during her career. She retired from acting in 1911, but returned to the stage in 1921 in a series of engagements in both America and Europe. [link]
On July 30, 1923, she became the first woman ever to be featured on the cover of Time magazine. Her naturalistic and individual style was in contrast to Bernhardt's high emotionalism, and the two were rivals for many years.
She died at the age of 65 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania while on tour in the United States.
External link
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