Unglamorous Facts About Jeanne Crain, Hollywood’s Most Unfortunate It Girl
A life of wealth, fame, and beauty would probably be a dream come true for most people. But in the case of Hollywood starlet Jeanne Crain, the glamor on the surface of her life looked nothing like her tragic reality behind closed doors.
1. She Got A Lucky Start
Jeanne Crain grew up in just the right place at just the right time. Born in California in 1925, Crain spent her earliest years adjacent to Hollywood. The city emerged as a center for the film industry about a decade before her birth, making her path to stardom possible. It did not, however, make her young life any easier.
2. Her Foundation Crumbled
Crain’s parents divorced in 1934. Just around nine years old at the time, this upended her life completely as she, her mother, and sister moved to Los Angeles.
Divorce tends to be especially difficult for children, but she seemed to take it all in stride. In fact, she realized at a young age that she had something she could use to her advantage…
3. She Used Her Assets
By her early teens, Crain began taking a special interest in any activity that gave her the chance to be the center of attention. She snagged the lead roles in school plays, and even began entering (and winning!) pageants.
She boasted both notable talent and effortless beauty, which likely explains her first real chance at stardom.
However, it didn't quite pan out as expected...
4. She Stood Out
It all started with a studio tour. Well, it sort of started with a studio tour. In the early 1940s, Crain experienced her first brush with fame while on a tour of RKO Studios. She must have looked something special that day, because when director Orson Welles set his eyes on her, he felt he just couldn’t let her get away.
