Known for being arevolutionary theater actress, Eleonora Duse left nothing to chance. On stage he let himself be guided by his emotions, thus leaving a memorable performance in the memory of the spectators.
Who was Eleonora Duse
Eleonora Giulia Amalia Duse (Vigevano, October 3, 1858 – Pittsburgh, April 21, 1924) was an Italian theater actress.
It grows in one family of actors that accustoms her to the nomadic life of wandering artists and introduces her to this environment since she was a child. In fact, at the age of 4 he gets a part in the theatrical transposition of “I miserabili”.
In his early twenties he already runs a company where she interprets memorable stories such as Teresa Raquin by Émile Zola, obtaining great approval from critics and the public. He fine-tuned his style and technique in the Semistabile Company of Turin, which he joined in 1879.
The beginning of great success as an actress
The great moment of fame arrives for her in the Eighties when she manages to ride the wave of change in the world of theater.
Often deals with issues considered taboo such as sex, money or the role of women in a now hypocritical society that shows itself shiny and perfect, hiding all the rottenness.
It often represents pieces from the modern repertoire like the plays by Victorien Sardou, Alexandre Dumas (son) but also by Giovanni Verga, a great realist exponent. In the same years marries Tebaldo Marchetti, an actor from her company with whom she gives birth to Enrichetta but who soon proves to be an unhappy marriage. In 1884 he then began a relationship with Arrigo Boito characterized by many ups and downs.
Leave the theater for a while and then return in 1921 on stage out of necessity. In the meantime, however, he also manages to be discovered in the world of cinema, just emerging, with “Cenere” based on the novel by Grazia Deledda.
The style and the theatrical revolution of “La Divina”
As already mentioned, Eleonora Duse was not just any actress, on the contrary, she was a fundamental figure in modern theater breaking all the present schemes. In addition to presenting the different themes, also changes the way of acting, now much less constructed. In fact, he often finds himself ad improvise and let oneself be guided by emotions, obtaining compliments from exponents like Stanislavskij.
Her spontaneous naturalness leads her to be nicknamed by Gabriele d’Annunzio, a fundamental figure in her life, “The divine”. Its exterior and interior beauty have made it unforgettable over the years and its unmistakable style has made it iconic.