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Norma ShearerAmerican actress
Date of Birth: 10.08.1902
Country:  Canada |
Content:
- Early Life and Family
- Trials and Tribulations
- Arrival in New York City
- Early Acting Roles
- Turning Point
- Hollywood Success
- Marriage to Irving Thalberg
- Academy Award and Leading Lady
- Loss and Retirement
- Later Years
- Legacy
Early Life and Family
Norma Shearer was born Norma Shearer Tremblay on August 10, 1902, in Montreal, Canada. Her father, Andrew Shearer, was a successful building contractor, and her mother, Edith Shearer, was a beautiful and elegant woman known for her extramarital affairs and drug use. Edith desired her daughter to become a concert pianist, but Norma, from the tender age of nine, was determined to be an actress. Edith, however, doubted her daughter's ability due to her perceived lack of beauty.
Physically, Norma was a heavyset adolescent with broad shoulders, sturdy legs, and small, slightly crossed eyes. Despite these perceived flaws, Norma possessed an unyielding belief in her ability to captivate audiences through her charm.
Trials and Tribulations
Norma's pursuit of acting faced its first significant hurdle in 1918 when her father's company went bankrupt and her elder sister developed mental illness. The family was forced to sell their Montreal home and move to a run-down suburb. Edith, unable to cope with these circumstances, took her daughters and left her husband to live in a cheap boarding house.
Determined to support her daughters, Edith, with the encouragement of her brother, sold Norma's piano and used the proceeds to purchase three train tickets to New York City. She possessed a letter of introduction for Norma, given to her by a theater company manager, hoping to present it to Florenz Ziegfeld, who was currently producing his own show.
Arrival in New York City
In January 1919, the trio arrived in New York City and settled into a tiny rented flat with one double bed without a mattress and a shared bathroom at the end of a long, dark hallway. Norma and her sister took turns sleeping in the bed with their mother, their slumber often interrupted by the rumble of elevated trains passing directly outside their window.
Their hopes of Norma performing in Ziegfeld's show were dashed when Florenz laughed upon seeing the young, plump 17-year-old. Undeterred, Norma devised other strategies to achieve her goal.
Early Acting Roles
Norma discovered that Universal Pictures was seeking eight beautiful girls for roles in a new film. Accompanied by her sister, she attended the casting call only to find a line of over 50 hopefuls ahead of her. Quickly, a casting assistant selected the first seven girls near the front of the line. Determined not to miss her opportunity, Norma coughed loudly, drawing the assistant's attention. She was chosen as the eighth girl, marking her film debut.
Small parts in films followed, including one in "The Fall of Babylon" in 1920. On the set of "The Flappers" in 1920, Norma introduced herself to director D.W. Griffith, hoping he might help advance her career. However, Griffith, unimpressed by her slightly crossed eyes, dismissed her, stating that she would never be a great actress.
Turning Point
Desperate to improve her situation, Norma saved her earnings and sought the help of Dr. William Bates, an eyesight specialist who promoted exercises to correct vision. While financially struggling, Norma embarked on a modeling career and was surprisingly successful. Soon, billboards featuring Norma's image adorned the streets of New York City.
In 1921, three years after arriving in New York, Norma landed her first substantial film role in "The Restless Sex." Her performance caught the attention of Hollywood producer Hal Roach, who was on the lookout for new talent. In 1923, through the influence of Louis B. Mayer, the head of Mayer Company, Roach offered Norma a contract.
Hollywood Success
After years of setbacks, Norma's fortunes had finally changed. In the spring of 1923, she and her mother traveled to Los Angeles to join Mayer Company, where Norma met its vice president, Irving Thalberg. Their friendship blossomed, and he became instrumental in her subsequent success in numerous films.
By 1925, Norma had negotiated a $1,000-per-week contract with MGM and, within five years, her salary reached $5,000 per week, fulfilling her childhood dream of stardom. She purchased a lavish home in the Hollywood Hills for herself and her mother.
Despite her success, Norma faced competition from other Hollywood stars, including the rising Greta Garbo. She increasingly relied on Irving Thalberg for support, and he eagerly provided her with successful roles. Their close friendship eventually evolved into romance.
Marriage to Irving Thalberg
Norma and Irving Thalberg made their first public appearance as a couple at the premiere of Charlie Chaplin's "The Gold Rush" in July 1925. They married on September 29, 1927. A week after their wedding, the first sound film premiered in the United States, signaling the end of the silent film era. Despite her Canadian accent, Norma seamlessly transitioned to talking pictures, starting with "Their Own Desire" in 1929.
Academy Award and Leading Lady
In 1930, Norma starred in "The Divorcee," a box office hit that won her the Academy Award for Best Actress for her portrayal of Jerry Martin. She followed this success with equally acclaimed performances in "A Free Soul" (1931) and "Strange Interlude" (1932). These films established her as a leading Hollywood actress, surpassing stars like Joan Crawford and Greta Garbo, and solidified her status as "MGM's Queen."
Norma received three additional Academy Award nominations for her roles in "The Barretts of Wimpole Street" (1934), "Romeo and Juliet" (1936), and "Marie Antoinette" (1938).
Loss and Retirement
On September 14, 1936, Norma's husband, Irving Thalberg, died of pneumonia at the age of 37. Despite the loss of her husband, who had been a significant driving force in her early Hollywood career, Norma maintained her position at MGM.
In 1939, Norma was approached for the role of Scarlett O'Hara in "Gone with the Wind." She showed no interest in the part, famously stating, "I don't want to play Scarlett. The part I'd like to play is Rhett Butler!" This was not the only blockbuster film Norma turned down.
Choosing instead to star in less successful films like "We Were Dancing" (1942) and "Her Cardboard Lover" (1942), Norma officially retired from acting in 1942.
Later Years
Norma married a former ski instructor, Martin Arrouge, 12 years her junior. They lived a quiet life, but her later years were overshadowed by Alzheimer's disease, and it was rumored that she often referred to her husband, Martin, as Irving.
Norma Shearer died of pneumonia on June 12, 1983, at the age of 80. She was interred in a mausoleum in Glendale, alongside her first husband, Irving Thalberg.
Legacy
Norma Shearer left behind a lasting legacy in the film industry. Her contributions were recognized with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6636 Hollywood Boulevard. Her Academy Award for Best Actress in "The Divorcee" serves as a testament to her undeniable talent and enduring star power.
