Eleonora Duse

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Image:Eleonora Duse.jpg Eleonora Duse (October 3, 1858–April 21, 1924), was an Italian actress, often known simply as Duse.

[edit] 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. [1]

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 d'Annunzio, and the two became involved romantically while collaborating professionally. When d'Annunzio gave the lead in the play La Città morta to Bernhardt instead of Duse, there was a furious fight, and Duse ended the affair with d'Annunzio.

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. [2]

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 in Suite 524 of the Hotel Schenley while on tour in the United States. The Hotel Schenley is now the William Pitt Union for the University of Pittsburgh.