Shady Facts About Paulette Goddard, The Infamous Gamin
Paulette Goddard raged against convention. An ambitious brunette amongst many platinum blondes in Hollywood, her fierce independence and fiery personality was legendary. Her confirmed and rumored romances with wealthy, prominent men—even more so.
But, despite her talent for turning a bad situation around, the actress couldn't unrun fate's cruel plan forever.
1. She Had A Different Name
Born in 1910, Paulette Goddard's real name was actually Marion. However, for reasons unknown, it seems young Marion’s mother had a change of heart and started calling her Pauline. Of course, when it came to her bizarre upbringing, this was only the tip of the iceberg. As a child, she moved to Kansas with her family—and it sparked one of the messiest chapters of her life.
2. Her Parents’ Divorce Was Dramatic
Soon after moving to Kansas, Paulette’s parents separated and divorced. But the real reason for the family's disintegration remains blurry. You see, there were different versions of the story. Later in life, Paulette claimed her father left the family. However, there's a darker possibility: Her father placed all the blame on her mother, accusing her of a horrifying offense.
3. She Went On The Run
Pauline's father had a different take on the family’s breakup. He alleged that his ex-wife kidnapped Paulette. Apparently, in an effort to dodge a custody battle, Paulette and her mother never stayed in one place for long; they were constantly on the move. Heck, they even lived in Canada for a time. But these family issues had a deep and lasting impact on Paulette.
Decades later, still burdened by her twisted childhood, she made an extremely bold claim about her father.
4. She Made An Enemy
In 1938, Paulette made a scandalous public statement about her own father, claiming that she wasn't biologically his. Of course, Joseph didn’t take it well. In fact, he was so furious, he sued her, stating her claims damaged his name and made him lose his job. So, he argued that his estranged daughter owed him money. Paulette lost the lawsuit and had to pay her father a sum of $35 per week as restitution.
However, Paulette's penchant for trouble began early on. Throughout her childhood, she and her mother barely scraped by, and, as a result, she made some questionable decisions.
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