Gene Tierney
One of the cinema's most spellbinding actresses, Gene Tierney developed an interest in acting at an early age. Although born into a wealthy family, she was unsatisfied with life in high society. Much to her family's chagrin, Tierney decided to pursue her passion for acting. She began in the theater, an outlet in show business that her family found more legitimate. She scored her first role in 1938, and in 1940 won acclaim for her first performance in a leading role in The Male Animal. Fox decided to sign the young actress and she made her way to Hollywood. Her first films, while not substantial, had her co-starring next to already well-established actors, such as Henry Fonda and Tyrone Power (link). Her next big break came when she was given the lead opposite Don Ameche as the love of his life in the romantic film Heaven Can Wait (1943) with direction from the great Ernst Lubitsch. It was her role the following year in Laura, however, that proved to be her most memorable film and affirmed her as a star in her own right. Her success in Laura (1944) led to starring roles in other notable films across multiple genres such as Leave Her to Heaven (1945, film noir), The Ghost and Mrs. Muir (1947, fantasy drama), and the dark drama Whirlpool (1949).
Family complications such as the many health problems that resulted from the premature birth of her daughter, however, proved too much for her, and Tierney suffered from depression for much of the rest of her life. As a result, she, unfortunately, made fewer films for the remainder of her career starting after the late '40's. Despite these challenges, Tierney did not fail to give good performances and prove her versatility. She also starred in comedies, like The Mating Season (1951) and proved to be fantastic as self-assured women in films like The Black Widow (1954). In the '60's, it seemed as though she would begin a second career as a character actress when she filmed Toys in the Attic (1963), but Tierney soon left the screen and acting for good.
Tierney left a substantial mark in film over her twenty-year career. She was a model romantic leading lady, a captivatingly beautiful but deadly femme fatale. Yes, there is no doubt that she was beautiful, but, beyond this, Tierney had a spellbinding effect that bewitched both her audience and the characters she played opposite on the screen. Although she proved herself in a variety of roles and felt comfortable in period dramas and romantic comedies as well, her beguiling gifts were perhaps most memorably put to use in film noir. Regardless, it is impossible to deny her innate enthralling quality. Watch and see for yourself!
Core Films
*= my personal favorites
Heaven Can Wait (1943)*
Laura (1944)*
Leave Her to Heaven (1945)*
The Razor’s Edge (1946)*
The Ghost and Mrs. Muir (1947)*
Where the Sidewalk Ends (1950)
Whirpool (1950)
For More
Books
Autobiography; Self-Portrait by Gene Tierney with Mickey Herskowitz: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0883261529/ref=ox_sc_saved_title_6?smid=A9HDPO5CEMFR1&psc=1&pldnSite=1
