20 Facts About Eleonora Duse

Eleonora Duse performed in many countries, notably in the plays of Gabriele D'Annunzio and Henrik Ibsen.

Eleonora Duse achieved a unique power of conviction and verity on the stage through intense absorption in the character, "eliminating the self" as she put it, and letting the qualities emerge from within, not imposed through artifice.

Eleonora Duse was born in Vigevano, Lombardy, Austrian Empire, in 1858 to Alessandro Vincenzo Eleonora Duse and Angelica Cappelletto.

Eleonora Duse came to fame in Italian versions of roles made famous by Sarah Bernhardt, such as La Dame aux camelias.

Eleonora Duse 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.

Eleonora Duse then joined Cesare Rossi's theater company, and met actor Tebaldo Checchi.

Eleonora Duse travelled on tour to South America, and upon her return a year later she formed her own company, meaning that she would assume the additional responsibilities of both manager and director.

In contrast to Bernhardt's outgoing personality, which thrived on publicity, Eleonora Duse was introverted and private, rarely giving interviews.

Eleonora Duse found public appearances to be a distraction, and once remarked to a journalist that away from the stage, "I do not exist".

Shaw gave his nod to Eleonora Duse and defended his choice in an adamant oratory quoted by biographer Frances Winwar.

In 1896, Eleonora Duse completed a triumphant tour of the United States; in Washington President Grover Cleveland and his wife attended every performance.

Eleonora Duse is reported to have had a relationship with Russian count and painter Alexander Wolkoff and lived in his palace in Venice, now known as Palazzo Barbaro Wolkoff.

Eleonora Duse suffered from ill health throughout most of her adult life, and the many years of touring had taken their toll.

Eleonora Duse retired from acting in 1909, but returned to the stage in 1921 in a series of engagements in both Europe and America.

Eleonora Duse was very disappointed in her work in the film, and later wrote to the French singer Yvette Guilbert with the request not to see "that stupid thing, because you'll find nothing, or almost nothing, of me in that film".

On 30 July 1923, Eleonora Duse became the first woman to be featured on the cover of the nascent magazine Time.

Eleonora 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.

Eleonora Duse claimed not to have a technique of any sort, and scorned at efforts to put her art into a science.

Eleonora Duse was great friends with actress Eva Le Gallienne, who wrote her biography.

The upcoming film Eleonora Duse, directed by Pietro Marcello, stars Valeria Bruni Tedeschi as Eleonora Duse and Noemie Merlant as Enrichetta Checchi.