Sultry Facts About Ona Munson, Gone With The Wind's Forgotten Tragedy

The Sultry Ona Munson

Ona Munson began her career as a promising young actress on Broadway, but she's most famous for her controversial role in the mega-hit Gone with the Wind. But despite her professional success and glamour, Munson's tragic personal life told a very different story.  

1. Her Star Is Born

Owena Elizabeth Wolcott was born on June 16, 1903, in Portland, Oregon. Drawn to the performance world, she took dance and singing lessons as a young girl and hoped to one day "make it". However, pursuing her dreams would bring harsh lessons and shape her life in unexpected ways. She began learning those lessons young. 

 Bettmann, Getty Images

2. She Was The Only Survivor

Munson was the youngest of four children in her family, but tragedy hit them all early. In the end, she was the only one to survive into adulthood, with all the rest of her siblings passing in infancy. This profound loss became both a blessing and a curse. 

 De Carvalho Collection, Getty Images

3. Early Tragedy Affected The Rest Of Her Life

The deaths of her siblings may have placed a strain on her parents' marriage, and they divorced in the 1920s. Yet, as their only child, Munson became the sole focus of their attention, allowing her to pursue her passion with unwavering support. 

But this meant she hit show business very, very young. 

 CBS Studios, Wikimedia Commons

4. The Stage Was Her Playground

Munson's career began in vaudeville, where she captured audiences with her versatile performances. But her age must have raised eyebrows. At just four years old, she made her vaudeville debut. She spent the next years becoming a hardened pro with one of Gus Edwards' "Kiddy" acts.

From there, she hit an even bigger stage.

 United Press International, Wikimedia Commons

5. She Turned Heads On The Great White Way

In 1919, a teenage Munson made her Broadway debut and quickly became a prominent stage presence. However, it was her role in No, No, Nanette in 1926 that propeled her into the national spotlight. This performance marked a turning point in her career, making her a household name nationwide—and launching her tumultuous love life.

 Unknown Author, Wikimedia Commons

6. She Met A Multi-Hyphenate

As she rose in the theatre world, Munson met fellow stage actor Edward Buzzell, a Broadway star who wrote, directed, and produced. His diverse skills allowed him to work behind the scenes and on stage, and these skills very much caught Munson’s eye.

 MGM, Wikimedia Commons

7. She Had A Star-Packed Wedding

Munson was young and in love, and she made a rash decision. On July 16, 1926, Munson married Buzzell. It was a union that turned them into a power couple in the entertainment world, except that Buzell’s own fame almost eclipsed Munson's. But she wasn’t about to let that stand.

 Sol Lesser Productions, The Red House (1947)

8. She Stole The Spotlight

In 1928, Munson secured the female lead in the original production of Hold Everything!, where she introduced the song “You're the Cream in My Coffee”. It was the standout song from Hold Everything! and became a beloved standard in American musical theater. 

Its success helped elevate her career even further...and pushed her to take riskier steps.

 Sol Lesser Productions, The Red House (1947)

9. Her World Was Changing

Munson came to fame at a time when entertainment was changing, and the advent of Talkie films (instead of silent ones) in Hollywood ruined many careers for actors with heavy accents or unlikely voices. Munson, however, saw it as an opportunity—one she grabbed with both hands.

 http://pd56.org/the-jazz-singer/, Wikimedia Commons

10. She Found Her Voice 

Soon after Talkies debuted, Munson made her way to Hollywood, eager to transition from the stage to the silver screen. It was harder than she ever imagined. It took three years to hear her voice in a film, and her first speaking role came in 1930 in Going Wild. But then the floodgates opened. 

 CBS Studios, Wikimedia Commons

11. She Chased Roles

1931 was a wild ride for Munson as she added three films to her career: The Hot Heiress, Broadminded, and Five Star Finale, most of these being lead or else prominent roles. She was working harder than she ever had and getting more recognition. But all this hard work took a toll. 

 First National Pictures, The Hot Heiress (1931)

12. Her Marriage Collapsed

1931 was a banner year for Munson’s professional life, but her personal life fell apart behind closed doors. The year also marked the end of her marriage to Edward Buzzell, with the pair clearly growing apart as Munson gained fame. 

Despite this romantic setback, Munson's newfound freedom led her to explore new—and scandalous—relationships.

 Sol Lesser Productions, The Red House (1947)

13. She Fell For Hollywood's Golden Director

After her divorce, Munson didn’t stay lonely for long, and her choice of lover was more high-profile than ever. She began an affair with filmmaker Ernst Lubitsch, a director known for his urbane comedies of manners, his light, witty "Lubitsch touch," and his two (eventually three) Oscar nominations for Best Director.

Meanwhile, Munson was still a work-a-day actress. Perhaps it was this that doomed them.

 Alexander Binder, Wikimedia Commons

14. Her Affair Ended Suddenly

Munson had spent years in Hollywood grappling her way to the top, but in the mid-30s, she left film and returned to New York and Broadway, starring in productions such as Henrik Ibsen’s Ghosts. Coincidentally or not, her affair with Lubitsch had ended by this point—and he soon married another woman.

Still, it wasn't like Munson to mope for long, and a new love had already taken hold of her heart.

 Republic Pictures, Wikimedia Commons

15. Her Roles Mirrored Her Life

Ghosts is a powerful drama that explores the consequences of a family's hidden secrets. The play centers on a widowed mother, Mrs Alving, who confronts the dark truths about her late husband's life. Munson played Regina Engstrand, the late Captain Alving's illegitimate child.

As they watched, audiences were unaware that Munson's love life contained just as many secrets, repression, and potential illegitimacy.

 Republic Pictures, Wikimedia Commons

16. Her Love Was Bigger Than The Headlines

While starring in Ghosts, Munson had a passionate affair with the beautiful Russian-American actress Alla Nazimova. In the entertainment world, such a relationship could have ruined Munson's image with audiences, not to mention destroyed her career. But she was in good hands.

 University of Washington, Wikimedia Commons

17. She Was In A Sewing Circle

Nazimova openly had relationships with women while still in a conventional marriage. She also created the Garden of Alla Hotel, a popular celebrity retreat, and coined the phrase "sewing circle" as code for Hollywood actresses who liked other women. In other words, she had a lot of experience in this.

But Munson's association with Nazimova did have unintended effects.

 Bain News Service, Wikimedia Commons

18. They Gossiped About Her

Although Munson and Nazimova’s affair flared out, those tabloids in the know began seeing Munson as a scandal-magnet. When Munson returned to Hollywood in 1938, this scrutiny only increased, but she was determined to shape her career on her terms. What a comeback it was. 

 First National Pictures, The Hot Heiress (1931)

19. She Made A Comeback

Upon her return to Hollywood, Munson began landing only smaller roles, starting with a minor part in His Exciting Night and an uncredited role in Dramatic School. That all changed with her next role. Amidst competition, she won the right to play Belle Watling in the Civil War epic Gone with the Wind. 

But it wasn’t an easy road to the part. 

 Sol Lesser Productions, The Red House (1947)

20. Heavy Hitters Turned Down Her Part

Although Gone with the Wind was one of the biggest films before it was even in production—it had already been a successful book—Belle Watling was a part seemingly no one wanted to touch. Both Mae West and Tallulah Bankhead turned it down, claiming it was too small a role for them. But they might have had much different reasons. 

 Paramount Pictures, Wikimedia Commons

21. She Took On A Poison Role

Belle Watling was just a supporting role, it's true, but the part also had a scandalous side. The beautiful Belle was a "fallen woman" and a Madam in the world of Gone with the Wind. As such, many actresses must have wondered if they would be harshly typecast forever after playing her. 

Munson had a different take entirely.

 Selznick International Pictures, Wikimedia Commons

22. She Played Against Type

Munson’s freckles and slight build were the antithesis of the voluptuous Belle, but producer David O Selznick cast her anyway. For one, she had no apprehensions about accepting the part. She viewed the role as a challenge and said, "I was delighted ... I had no idea the directors would give it to me". 

That delight showed on set...maybe a little too much.

 New York World-Telegram and the Sun staff photographer, Wikimedia Commons

23. She Was Ahead Of Her Time

On the set of Gone with the Wind, Munson showed her brash sense of humor. She entertained herself and the cast by reading The H-ssy's Handbook, a cheeky and lighthearted guide that mirrored her character's seductive and bold nature. 

Once filming was done, Munson just had to wait and hope her work paid off. It certainly did. 

 MGM, Gone with the Wind (1939)

24. Her Film Got Recognition

Munson didn't have to wait long to reap the benefits of her adventurousness in playing Belle Watling. Gone with the Wind was a hit, and at the 12th Academy Awards it set a record by winning 8 of the 13 competitive nominations it received. 

But even with the film’s monumental success, Munson still had secrets. 

 MGM, Gone with the Wind (1939)

25. She Had Another Fiery Affair

After Gone with the Wind, Munson began an affair with female playwright Mercedes de Acosta. Their passionate relationship was all-consuming; as Munson once wrote, "I long to hold you in my arms and pour my love into you". In some ways, though, her new love was a return to her past.

 Arnold Genthe, Wikimedia Commons

26. She Shared Lovers

De Acosta, known for her many relationships with celebrated Broadway and Hollywood actresses, had also been involved with Munson's former girlfriend Alla Nazimova. Even so, this shared connection didn’t seem to bother them—something else entirely was beginning to concern Munson.

 Unknown Author, Wikimedia Commons

27. She Got Typecast

Gone with the Wind should have been the biggest break Munson ever got. Instead, it might have been a nail in her coffin, as roles, especially good roles, seemed to dry up. It was as everyone who turned down the part of Belle had feared: Munson was now firmly typecast in the "risque woman" category. 

Unfortunately, her next big role was no different.

 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Wikimedia Commons

28. Her Career Was In A Rut

Munson's next significant part came in 1941's The Shanghai Gesture. Critics praised her (yellowface) portrayal of Mother Gin Sling, and she got to work with director Josef von Sternberg, but it was yet another Madam-type character reminiscent of Belle Watling. 

But if her professional life was stalling, she kept her personal life very interesting.

 Getty Images

29. She Re-Married

During the production of The Shanghai Gesture, tabloids reported that Munson planned to marry Stewart McDonald, a Federal Housing agent. The couple may have wed in 1941, starting a marriage that would endure for as long as she remained in Hollywood. But not everyone sent her well wishes.

 Republic Pictures (I), Idaho (1943)

30. The Press Ridiculed Her Marriage

After the gossip about Munson’s relationships with women made its way through Hollywood, many began to whisper that Munson had a “lavender” union—that is, a marriage arranged between a gay man and woman to disguise their actual sexual desires.

Regardless of the true nature of their relationship, this union would serve as yet another example of the dramatic highs and lows that defined Munson's  life.

 Sol Lesser Productions, The Red House (1947)

31. She Entertained The Troops

Between her role in The Shanghai Gesture and her final film in 1947, Munson appeared in five films, and also began to work to entertain troops during the outbreak of WWII. While there, her dedication solidified her as a beloved figure in entertainment and her support of the war effort. It also earned her a new nickname.

 Shutterstock

32. She Was The “Official Hostess”

Dubbed "Hollywood's Official Hostess" for her work in WWII, Munson became a godmother to hundreds of soldiers, offering them comfort and a touch of home. She never had children, but cherished the opportunities to support the troops. 

But Munson’s life could never stay completely happy for long.

 MGM, Gone with the Wind (1939)

33. She Lost Love Again

Despite the whispers in the press about it, Munson's marriage to Stewart McDonald lasted longer than anyone could have possibly predicted. But in 1947, after six years together, they finally called it quits. 

Except where before the single life had reinvigorated Munson's career, she now faced near downfall. 

 Sol Lesser Productions, The Red House (1947)

34. Her Career Stalled Out

Munson’s film career slowed to nearly a halt after her split from McDonald. It culminated in one last, very surprising performance. After a string of lesser roles, her last movie was 1947's The Red House—a psychological thriller that marked a departure from her usual fare. 

Even so, the following years proved to be anything but dull. 

 MGM, Gone with the Wind (1939)

35. She Found A New Man

The 1950s brought a new rollercoaster of events in Munson’s life. Never alone long, around 1949 she married Eugene Berman, a Russian-born artist. Like so many of her lovers, Berman was no slouch: He was a renowned artist and set designer and was highly respected in the art world for his distinctive surrealist style.

More than that, he was well-connected—and these connections came in handy.

 Mondadori Publishers, Wikimedia Commons

36. Her Third Wedding Was High Profile

Berman’s impressive career allowed him to befriend many famous and influential people. Indeed, Munson married him in the living room of Igor Stravinsky, widely considered one of the most pivotal composers of the 20th century. 

Yet sadly, this marriage marked the beginning of the end for Munson in other ways. 

 Bettmann, Getty Images

37. She Made A New Life

Berman brought a new sense of stability and sophistication to Munson's life, offering her a sharp contrast to the chaos she had known in Hollywood. The couple traveled to Mexico together, then to Italy, where they visited galleries showcasing his paintings alongside works by renowned artists such as Salvador Dalí and Marcel Duchamp.

However, their marriage would ultimately be anything but predictable.

 Bernard Gotfryd, Wikimedia Commons

38. She Took Her Final Bow

Munson may have left Hollywood in 1947 thanks to her typecasting, but leaving her beloved Broadway behind took longer. She made her final stage appearance in the 1952 production of First Lady, where she played Sophy Prescott, a poised and efficient social secretary.

The work appeared to get Munson thinking about a new acting medium. 

 Republic Pictures (I), Idaho (1943)

39. She Hit Television Screens

After the limited run of First Lady ended, Munson set her sights on a different kind of comeback. She still didn't seem to be able to face the big screen, or at least to get parts there that excited her, but in the 1950s she transitioned to television, appearing in various guest roles and TV series. 

Unfortunately, her burgeoning television career was cut far too short.

 DogsRNice, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

40. She Couldn’t Escape Belle Watling

Although Munson was finding steady work on TV throughout the 1950s, her roles even then were beginning to follow an upsettingly familiar pattern. She was still typecast in “fallen women” roles.  Finally, after years of trying to escape, Munson began creeping down a dark path.

 Sol Lesser Prod,  Wikimedia Commons

41. She Struggled With Demons

During this time, Munson was approaching her 50s and must have felt she had very little to show for it besides a famous role that plagued her. As a result, she appeared to suffer from depression and hopelessness about her life. That was far from all.

 Bill Herbert, Wikimedia Commons

42. She Had A Mystery Surgery Gone Wrong

If Munson only had to struggle against her inner demons, perhaps things would have turned out differently. Instead, she also suffered from poor physical health, and experienced undisclosed difficulties after an equally unnamed surgical procedure. It led to her devastating end. 

 Selznick International Pictures, Wikimedia Commons

43. She Made A Desperate Plan

Battling these ongoing and secretive health problems in addition to her foundering and unfulfilling career, Munson held onto a harrowing belief: There was no point in living anymore. By 1955, she was 51—what could Hollywood want from her except more Belle Watling? 

So she put a dark plan into action.

 Unknown Author, Wikimedia Commons

44. She Took Too Many Pills

One day, Munson's husband Eugene Berman left her sleeping in the apartment they shared, with a plan to take her shopping later in the day. Shortly after he left, Munson took an overdose of barbiturates to end it all. Horrifically, she was successful in her attempt...but the tragedy deepened.  

 United States Government, Wikimedia Commons

45. Her Husband Found Her

In the end, it was Berman who found his wife's body—after returning to their home to take her on his loving shopping outing—and quickly called the authorities. It was a scene no husband should ever face, but Berman was about to make another heartbreaking discovery. 

 Wikimedia Commons, Picryl

46. She Had A Final Message

Munson went out with a final, gut-wrenching note. She had put the message beside her bed just before she took the pills, and it read: "This is the only way I know to be free again...Please don't follow me". 

They were harsh words from a woman chewed up by a harsh career. 

 First National Pictures, Wikimedia Commons

47. Her Husband Suffered

Munson’s passing deeply affected Berman, who was preparing a book of sketches and reflections from their time in Italy together. After Imaginary Promenades in Italy was published, he left the United States and moved permanently to Rome, unable to be surrounded by his heavy memories of Munson. 

 Carl Van Vechten, Wikimedia Commons

48. She Was Misunderstood

Even in death, Munson deserved better. Her headstone dates are inaccurate, with her birth year listed as 1910 instead of 1903. But she did get some consolation, even in death.

 Sol Lesser Productions, The Red House (1947)

49. She Was Recognized

After her passing, Ona Munson was posthumously honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on the north side of the 6200 block of Hollywood Boulevard. It's just tragic it took her death to get her one. 

 Walter Cicchetti, Shutterstock

50. Her Legacy

While Ona Munson's life seemed filled with Hollywood glitz and glamour, it often concealed the immense emotional toll her brand of fame exacted. Munson's story reminds us of the hidden struggles behind the screen, even as she embodied professionalism, resilience, and an unwavering capacity for love.

 Unknown Author, Wikimedia Commons

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