Taylor Swift has recently released her highly anticipated album, The Tortured Poets Department, which features a track dedicated to Hollywood icon Clara Bow.
But who exactly is Clara Bow?
Clara Bow was born on July 29, 1905, in a rough neighborhood in Brooklyn, New York. Despite growing up in poverty, she rose to stardom in Hollywood and became the original ‘It Girl’ a century ago. Her dreams of becoming a movie star came true when she won a nationwide contest that kickstarted her acting career. Although her role in Beyond the Rainbow (1922) did not bring instant fame, she became America’s sweetheart in the mid-1920s thanks to the success of her movies.
Throughout her career, Clara appeared in 46 silent movies and 11 talkies, including popular films like Mantrap. Despite her professional success, her personal life was tumultuous, with the press scrutinizing her every move and her embroiled in various romantic scandals. The pressure took a toll on her mental and physical health, prompting her to leave Hollywood at the peak of her career after marrying actor Rex Bell.
Clara Bow spent her final years battling health issues before passing away from a heart attack in 1965 at the age of 60. The film ‘It’ propelled Clara to stardom and solidified her status as the ‘It Girl’. She also starred in other successful films like Black Oxen (1923) and The Plastic Age (1925).
Taylor Swift’s decision to write a song about Clara Bow seems to stem from the admiration of her unique tale. The track references Clara as a young woman with exceptional talent who faced attacks from the press, drawing a parallel to Taylor’s own experiences as a current ‘It Girl’. Clara Bow’s great-granddaughters were shocked and intrigued when they learned of the song’s name, as it was unexpected news for their family.
In addition to the track dedicated to Clara Bow, Taylor Swift’s album The Tortured Poets Department includes other emotional songs like The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived, which hints at a tumultuous past relationship and hints at betrayal.
