Eleonora Duse

Lore & Background

Duse was born in Vigevano, Lombardy, Austrian Empire, in 1858 to Alessandro Vincenzo Duse and Angelica Cappelletto. Both her father and her grandfather, Luigi, were actors from Chioggia, near Venice, and she joined the troupe at age four. She came to fame in Italian versions of roles made famous by Sarah Bernhardt, such as La Dame aux camélias. She gained her first major success in Europe, then toured South America, Russia and the United States in 1893; beginning the tours as a virtual unknown but leaving in her wake a general recognition of her genius. In 1879, while in Naples, she met journalist Martino Cafiero, and became involved in a 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 as well. Duse then joined Cesare Rossi's theater company, and met actor Tebaldo Checchi. The two married in 1881. By 1882, the couple had one daughter, Enrichetta Angelica, but separated after Duse became involved with another actor, Flavio Andò. She travelled on tour to South America in 1885, and upon her return a year later she formed her own company. Between 1887 and 1894, she had an affair with the Italian poet Arrigo Boito. In 1894 she met Gabriele D'Annunzio in Venice and the two became involved romantically as well as collaborating professionally. Gabriele d'Annunzio wrote four plays for her. When d'Annunzio gave the lead for the premiere of a play to Sarah Bernhardt instead of Duse, there was a furious fight, and Duse ended her affair with him. In 1896, Duse completed a triumphant tour of the United States. In 1909, Duse retired from acting. Around the time of her retirement, she met and became involved in an affair with Italian feminist Lina Poletti. She is reported to have had a relationship with Russian count and painter Alexander Wolkoff and lived in his palace in Venice. She returned to the stage in 1921. In 1916, she made one film, Cenere. On 30 July 1923, Duse became the first woman (and Italian) to be featured on the cover of Time magazine. Duse died of pneumonia at the age of 65 in Pittsburgh in Suite 524 of the Hotel Schenley while on the eastward return leg of a tour of the United States. After being moved to New York City, where she lay in state for four days before her funeral service, her body was returned to Italy. She is buried in Asol

Reader's Guide

Duse was cryptic regarding her acting style. She claimed not to have a technique of any sort, and scorned efforts to put her art into a science. She sought to 'eliminate the self' and become the characters she portrayed. She wore little makeup but 'made herself up morally.' According to the Encyclopædia Britannica, 'her art depended on intense naturalness rather than stage effect, sympathetic force and poignant intellectuality rather than the theatrical emotionalism of the French tradition.' Over the course of her career, Duse became well-known and respected for her assistance to young actors and actresses during the early stages of their careers. Among diverse artistic geniuses who acknowledged being inspired by Duse are modern dance pioneer Martha Graham and Imagist poetry pioneer Amy Lowell. She was great friends with actress Eva Le Gallienne, who wrote her biography.

Did You Know?

• Duse was the first woman and Italian to appear on the cover of Time magazine, on 30 July 1923.
• She made only one film, Cenere (1916), and was disappointed with the result, asking a friend not to see it.
• Her daughter Enrichetta Angelica donated some of Duse's items to the state in 1933, preserved in Asolo's Museo Civico.