Life of Actress Eleanora Duse.

¶ … life of actress Eleanora Duse. Specifically it will discuss her early life, becoming an actress, and her impact on the theater and world. Eleanora Duse was an Italian actress, one of the most famous in the world at the time she performed. She was a classic actress, compared with some of the most famous, such as Sarah Bernhardt, and she traveled the world with her company. She is legendary for creating the type of acting known as Method Acting, which really revolutionized the stage and screen.

Eleonora Guilia Amalia Duse known as Eleanora Duse on the stage was born October 3, 1858 in Vigevano, Italy. Her father and grandfather were both actors, and she began acting at a very young age (Editors). An early biographer notes, "The grandfather, Luigi Duse, was thoroughly legitimate in his work. He recited in Venetian dialect, a new departure in those days. The Duses established the Garibaldi Theatre at Padua" (Lee). However, the family was never financially successful, and by the time she was twelve, Eleanora was working long hours on the stage to support the family. Her health suffered as a result, and she suffered from various health problems throughout her life (Lee). She developed her style of acting very early, and there never seems to be any other choice of career for her. Her family may have urged her to become an actress, but she spent almost her entire life acting on the stage, so even if it was not her "first" choice as a profession, it certainly became her passion.

Initially, she was only known in Italy, and her fame began to grow in her own country before it spread around the world. She really seemed to gain popularity in the theaters of Venice, and that helped her gain roles in larger theaters, which led to a tour of France. After she began playing the larger theaters in France, her notoriety really began to spread. Biographer Lee continues, "After France, she continued her triumphant tour through Germany, Austria, Russia, Bulgaria and, as already mentioned, through the United States" (Lee). She continued to act throughout her life, and her popularity continued throughout her life, as well. In fact, even when she was "old and frail," there seemed to be a spirituality and intenseness in her performance that captivated audiences (Sobel).

At least some of her popularity came from her unique style of acting, which included a natural approach to her craft. She did not wear makeup or intricate costumes to create her characters. Instead, she attempted to "become" them by emulating their thoughts and emotions on the stage. Some critics liked the effect, but others did not. One early critic writes, "By contrast, Italian actor Eleanora Duse was a naturalist in art and could not assume the 'grande dame' that Bernhardt could" (Beasley 318). However, the majority of critics found her methods unique and compelling. Another writer notes, "Eleanora Duse broke open a new dimension of possibility and expression for the stage actor: wearing little or no make-up or elaborate costumes, [...] Duse would so wholly enter her roles as to feel her character's feelings and think their thoughts from the inside out" (Sobel). In fact, this was the beginning of what became known as Method Acting, and this form of acting became one of the most popular in the world. Thus, Duse created a new form of acting that still endures long after her death.

Of course, this style of acting did not develop overnight. Writer Sobel continues, "Duse's powerful stage presence may have made her work look like an effortless, natural gift, but as with any great artist, this seeming ease was entirely built on her early years of arduous and at times grueling, unrelenting study of technique and craft" (Sobel). She had to appear more mature and older than her years when she acted as a child, and she continued to develop her techniques throughout her life.

In her personal life, Duse was the long-time lover of Gabriele d'Annunzio, an Italian poet and dramatist, who wrote some of her best parts. Biographer Lee continues, "It was Duse's naturalistic art that inspired d'Annunzio to write for her 'Un sogno d'una Notte d'Estate,' (a Summer Night's Dream), [...] 'La Citta Morta' (the Dead City) and finally, 'Francesca da Rimini,' which no one but Duse and perhaps Sarah Bernhardt could interpret" (Lee). She was also known for other love affairs, and it is rumored that she had affairs with women, as well. All of this helped make her a little risque during her time, but it did not dampen the public's enthusiasm for her work. Another aspect of her career is that she could play just about any role, from light comedy to dark dramatics, and she brought her own individual style and character to each of her roles.