Sloppy bangs Constance: the tragedy of a talented crazy beauty (15 photos)

Genius and madness often go hand in hand. And history this actress whose star shone so brightly and fell so softly, another confirmation of this.





In the summer of 1973, a woman died in a Burlington hospital. Far from old, she was barely 50 years old. No one shed a tear at her bed, did not say the last "sorry", even her children. Neither son nor daughter didn't even visit their mother in the ward while life was slowly draining from her body devoured by disease.

Seems like a pretty common situation. But once a woman was a style icon of the whole country and one of the highest paid Hollywood movie star.



Constance Francis Marie Ockelman was born in 1922 in New York in the family of a German and an Irish woman. Father was a sailor and did not return from the next flight, when the daughter was barely 10 years old.



The girl did not forgive her mother for remarriage: very loved her father. The mother's second husband was a military man, and the family moved frequently. So the girl ended up in Miami, where in 1938 she won the beauty contest.

Inspired by her success, she chose the next step Hollywood. Where she met producer Arthur Hornblow, who came up with a pseudonym under which the beauty was recognized by the world: Veronica Lake (lake - "lake"), since the eyes of the girl resembled bottomless lakes with the purest water.

Playful riddle queen



Especially for a young blonde, the stylists of the dream factory came up with a hairstyle: a curly strand covered the forehead and one eye, creating mysterious and playful at the same time. The trend is called "the game of hide and seek" and soon spread throughout the country.

When World War II began, the authorities even turned to Veronica with a request to change her hairstyle, because Lake fans, those who did the same styling worked in factories. And limited by bangs the review provoked entanglement of strands in machines and accidents.



Lake deservedly became one of the first sex symbols Hollywood: petite (only 1.50), fragile, delicate, but at the same time self-confident, insidious and even somewhere tough.



"I need wings."

Universal recognition brought her a role in the film "I need wings". Men dreamed of her, girls imitated and copied. Further followed by no less striking films Sullivan's Travels, Glass key", "Weapon for Hire".



"Blue Dahlia"

George Marshall's "Blue Dahlia" stood apart. TO fortieth girl became the highest paid actress in Hollywood, and her name on the poster was enough to attract huge queues.

Difficulties and the beginning of the end



"Weapon for Hire"

But gradually it became more and more difficult for directors to find common language with a blonde. She broke into any trifles, cursed with colleagues, argued with directors. So, partner in "Wanderings Sullivan" by Joel McCree, who was offered a re-duo with Veronica in film "I Married a Witch", categorically refused the role. Arguing the refusal by the fact that two films with Lake are too many for one life.



"Glass Key"

The situation was aggravated by the mother of the woman, who aspired completely control your daughter's finances. She said that Veronica mental disorders diagnosed in childhood. But in relation the public was not affected. So far it hasn't affected.

Tragedy and unwanted children



"Sullivan's Journey"

In 1944, a woman lost her child - unsuccessfully fell on filming. Trying to drown out the pain, she began to drown grief in a bottle. What finally spoiled the already quick-tempered character of Lake and aggravated mental illness.

After 4 years, the studio refused to renew with Veronica contract: a woman has become too unpredictable. Lake disappeared from the radar and took care of her personal life. KingVa Noirov was married three times. Two marriages were unsuccessful, one spouse died. She had children - son and two daughters. But, in fact, the children were not needed by the mother: life continued to slide down the slope.



The rest of the huge fees dispersed in a few years. To earn money for food and a cheap hotel room, the woman worked as a bartender and waitress and even went to jail several times for hooliganism in drunk in public places. In a diner waiter alone the journalist recognized the star of past years and wrote an article about Veronica.

She again stirred up the interest of society. And Lake called on television as a presenter. But the disease progressed, and the actress again disappeared from the radar after the painting "Footprints in the Snow".

That's all that's left of me



When she died of cirrhosis of the liver, no one came to say goodbye. ex-husbands, no children. It is noteworthy and at the same time sad that the ashes star, adored by millions, remained for several years not buried. The urn was gathering dust in the free columbarium, because it simply did not found willing to pay for the funeral.

Only in 1977, the last will of Veronica was fulfilled: the ashes were scattered on the coast of Miami - in the sacred place where the victorious procession to the glory of the beautiful blonde.



In memory of the wayward beauty in the fashion world forever remained the same hairstyle, which is often addressed by modern stars such as Cate Blanchett and Christina Aguilera.



"LA Confidential"

In memory of Veronica, there is her on the Hollywood Walk of Fame a star, though it did not shine for very long. Based on the story Lake filmed LA Confidential film starring Kim Basinger.