Screen Siren – Natalie Wood
November 22, 2011 | Category: California Vintage, Hollywood, Screen Sirens, Vintage | 1 Comment
Natalie Wood is another of those most vital and beautiful actresses that lost her life in a tragic, unexpected and controversial manner. On November 29th 1981, aged only 43, she died, apparently at that time, by accident, drowning off the Santa Catalina Island, California. That evening she had spent on a boat with her husband Robert Wagner and her Brainstorm co-star, Christopher Walken. At the time it was claimed that she and her husband argued which lead her to leave the boat on a dingy and consequently drown. New witness testimony means that, this weekend, the case has been re-opened by the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department.
It’s now been 30 years since that fateful day and whilst it’s important that any wrongdoing is uncovered she deserves to be remembered for her life rather than the mystery of her death.
Her life started as Natalia Nikolaevna Zacharenko on July 20th 1938 in San Francisco to Russian parents who eventually moved her to Los Angeles so she could pursue acting. Aged 4 Natalia began her acting career and her name was changed by the studio to Natalie Wood. Most of my readers will have seen Natalie Wood as the little girl in Miracle on 34th Street. If you haven’t seen this delightful Christmas classic then surely make a point to watch it over the next few weeks.
She made many films as a child but then successfully moved from child acting to take on adult roles, something that many child actors struggle to achieve. Aged 16, in 1955, she starred alongside James Dean in Rebel Without A Cause for which she received her first Academy Award nomination, for Best Supporting Actress. As with many actors of this time Natalie Wood then found the studio typecasting her, in her case as a teenage girlfriend. After a decade of roles she found tiresome she starred opposite Warren Beatty in the 1961 Splendor in the Grass and earned her second Academy Award nomination, this time for Best Actress. Her career blossomed again from this point.
During this time she met and married Robert Wagner, an actor she had watched and had a crush on for many years. He was 8 years older than her. Supposedly she conspired to meet him by signing with his agent. Their first date to a premier, on her 18th Birthday, was to start a love affair that saw them marry a year later in 1957, divorce in 1962 and eventually rekindle their love and marry again.
In 1962 she made my all time favourite film, West Side Story. I first watched this film aged 14 and have since watched it many, many times. Aged 15 an old friend gave me one of my greatest treasures, the West Side Story Cast Album on vinyl. I have no means by which to play it any more but knowing I have it gives me great pleasure.
Natalie Wood played Maria in this Romeo and Juliet, wrong side of the tracks story of forbidden love. It fills me with disappointment when I watch musicals of old with fabulous actresses who I then discover did not sing themselves (think Audrey Hepburn in My Fair Lady). Marni Nixon sang Maria’s part in the film which is a shame as Natalie Wood could actually sing, as she proved in her next film Gypsy. However, Natalie Wood’s acting and charming presence on the screen made the film an enormous box office success. I have since watched many on stage versions of West Side Story and none match the energy and charisma of that film. I LOVE it.
Natalie Wood received her third Academy Award Nomination in 1964, for Love with the Proper Stranger opposite Steve McQueen. This lady had some FINE leading men!
In 1969 she was married to British Producer Richard Gregson. In 1970 they had a daughter, Natasha Gregson. Soon after the birth of their daughter they separated and were divorced in 1971. Quickly after Natalie Wood reconciled with Robert Wagner. They remarried in 1972 and had a daughter, Courtney Wagner in March 1974. They remained married until her death in 1981.
In total Natalie Wood starred in 56 films and although she never actually won an Academy Award and received limited critical success, she made an impact on the screen for many years and is surely one of best actresses of her time. I very much hope they resolve the mystery surrounding her death and are able to let her rest in peace.
Lottie -x-
If you enjoyed this post you may enjoy my other Screen Siren posts
Christmas Gift Ideas – Sponsor – Lotty Blue
November 18, 2011 | Category: Aprons, Christmas Inspiration, Gifts, Holidays, Sponsored Post, Vintage Inspired | Leave a Comment
Today is the turn of my lovely sponsor Lotty Blue. Lotty Blue is a one woman business which sells beautiful vintage inspired homewares including a fabulous range of festive lovelies from the Gisela Graham range, perfect for every whimsical vintage lovers tree and stocking.
Not forgetting the beautiful selection of aprons
There’s much to be found at Lotty Blue and Lottie Loves readers have been offered a fabulous discount of 10 % off anything in the entire store as well as free UK postage so do pop over if you use the code lottieloves1.
Enjoy shopping!
Lottie -x-
Diwali Party Fun
November 14, 2011 | Category: California, Holidays, Oufit Post, Vintage Inspired | 2 Comments
On Friday I was lucky to be invited to a friends Diwali (dee-var-lee) party. Diwali is the Indian festival of light. It is celebrated by most Indians with a day of rituals including house cleaning, the lighting of clay oil lamps called Diyas, new clothes and lots of delicious sweets. Diwali falls on the one new moon night between mid October and mid November. This night was actually two weeks ago but as my friend enjoys Diwali with her family she held her big party for 200 family members and friends on Friday night.
As soon as I received the invite I knew I wanted to wear Indian dress. There was only one person to help me with this and that was my sister. She lives in Leicester, England and has married into an Indian family. She would know exactly what I should wear and have access to the stores to buy the appropriate garb.
We spent a morning shopping together which was fun. It meant she shopped, texted me photographs and I yay or nay’d them. I highly recommend this method of shopping!
I’ve never worn Indian dress before, which is shocking given my sister’s family and the many opportunities I have been given over the years. I didn’t have the confidence to dress up until a few years ago. Hard to believe eh?
So, she sent me over my beautiful outfit and I enjoyed wearing it SO much. I rarely feel as beautiful as I felt that night and wish I had better photographs to show off. Unfortunately limited time and darkness didn’t give us the opportunity to take pictures.
I wanted my hair in a 60′s up do and my friend, Nicki (red dress below) obliged by giving me a beautiful beehive, which is quite a feat as my hair is still only chin length.We spent all of Friday, the Veteran’s Day holiday, with 8 children running around whilst we coloured, straightened and styled hair in preparation for the evening. I say ‘we’ as despite Nicki being the trained one we were all involved. I’m learning a lot about hair and even straightened the lady herself’s hair (very nervously I might add!). Later that evening we all stepped out looking beautifully Bollywood.
Another triumphant up do from Nicki
We had a great time at the party. Actually, truth be told, I had rather too much of a good time and 3 hours after arriving was taken home more than a little worse for wear and a tad less ladylike than I would prefer. I paid a heavy hangover price and shall NOT be doing that again for a while.
Yet another little adventure I shared with my lovely girlfriends here in California. We have some fun don’t we?
Lottie -x-
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