Who Was Clara Bow? Taylor Swift Song Sparks Interest in the Rise and Fall of Hollywood’s First ‘It’ Girl
variety.comCynthia Littleton Business Editor She’s the reason that rising female stars are often called “the It girl.” She starred in the first movie to win an Oscar for best picture.
By 1930, she’d made in 45 movies in six years. By 1933, after struggles with men and mental illness, Clara Bow’s Hollywood career was over.
There’s been a surge of interest in the legendary actress who straddled the silent and sound eras this week after Taylor Swift revealed the tracklist for her upcoming album, “The Tortured Poets Department.” The last song on Side D is titled “Clara Bow.” A native of Brooklyn, Bow grew up in poverty and got her start in pictures after she won a contest sponsored by a magazine.
Her prizes were “an evening gown, a trophy and a promise to help the aspiring young actress gain entrée into the film industry,” according to Bow’s biography from Turner Classic Movies.
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