Patricia Neal is a Hollywood actress, whose difficult fate inspired American screenwriters to create a film about her, which was released during her lifetime. The main role in it was played by the famous British film star Glenda Jackson.
short biography
The future American movie star Patricia Neal (real name is Patsy Louise) was born January 20, 1926 in the family of William and Eura Neil, who lived at that time in the state of Tennessee (USA). After graduating from school, the girl continued her education at one of the nearest universities, where she studied theatrical art.
Soon, she decides to move to New York. There she made her debut performance on Broadway in the production of The Voice of the Turtle. Later, she participated in two more musicals - The Miracle Worker and Another Part of the Forest. In 1946, for one of her works, the actress received the first Tony Theater Award in history, and in 1949 she began acting in films.
Love story
During the filming of The Source, actress Patricia Neal meets Harry Cooper, a famous Hollywood actor with a reputation for a smoothie. It is not surprising that the girl almost immediately fell in love with this handsome and extremely talented man. Despite the fact that the actor was 25 years older than her, they began a love affair.
At that time, Patricia had a brilliant career. For the role she played in the play staged according to the play of Hellman, she received four prestigious prizes at once, but she became famous thanks to this scandalous novel. At first, the lovers managed to hide their relationship, but once everyone learned about their relationship. This event was extremely negatively perceived by secular society.
To avoid ridicule and bullying from friends and colleagues, Patricia Neal had to have an abortion, besides, Harry Cooper himself asked for this . Subsequently, she repeatedly regretted this act. The love affair with the famous actor received a great response in the press. Newspapers all over the country rang about him. Millions of people began to consider Cooper a traitor, and her - a villain who dared to destroy an exemplary family.
Guide studios also took up arms against them. The actor stopped shooting. His wife publicly insulted Patricia, and daughter Maria completely spat on the actress in the face right on the set, which was immediately reported in the newspapers. Cooper, unable to withstand such a pressure, was forced to return to his family.
Hollywood directors soon forgave him and the actor continued to act in films. As for Patricia, she had to leave Hollywood. She returned to Broadway and continued to play on the stage. So ended the love story of Patricia Neal and Hollywood heartthrob Harry Cooper.
Marriage
In 1951, at one of the receptions, the actress met Roald Dahl, a great British writer, author of such world-famous compositions as Matilda, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and Gremlins. Nine of his works are among the 200 best books ever made in history. It was he who proposed the disgraced actress to marry him. The wedding took place in 1953. Five children were born in their family.
After some time, the actress decided to return to the cinema. Patricia Neal's films such as Face in the Crowd, Ben Casey, The Day the Earth Stopped, and Tiffany's Breakfast were very successful. Her career slowly went uphill.
Tragedies in the life of an actress
In 1960, the family of Patricia and Roald Dahl suffered a terrible misfortune. The nanny with their little son Theo, who was lying in a stroller, crossed the street and was hit by a car. At the same time, the child was very much injured - he had a severe traumatic brain injury, as a result of which he turned into a mentally retarded.
Despite the terrible shock, the actress did not give up her career. She continued to act in films and worked in the theater. In 1963, she got the lead role in the movie Hud, where she played with Paul Newman. This picture earned her an Oscar. Finally, Hollywood recognized her extraordinary talent! However, the taste of victory was overshadowed by yet another tragedy - her daughter Olivia, who was barely seven years old, was dying of measles. After this event, Patricia Neal abandoned her career and fenced off from others, leading a secluded lifestyle. Then she finds solace among the Mormons - religious sectarians who further estranged her from the real world.
Serious illness
In 1966, another misfortune happened to the actress - when a woman was at the initial stage of pregnancy, she suffered a stroke. This was followed by a many-hour operation, followed by a three-week coma. Her condition was so critical that the press hastened to announce her death.
Patricia still survived, regained consciousness, but it turned out that she had completely forgotten how to walk and talk. Roald Dahl literally did not leave his wife’s bed and did everything so that she quickly got to her feet. And he succeeded. A few months later, she began to speak, and a little later she took the first steps.
Return
Despite the disappointing forecasts of doctors, the actress gave birth to a healthy girl. Three years later, this strong woman returned to the film industry and was even nominated for an Oscar for her work in the film “If Not for the Roses”. In addition, she was twice awarded the British Academy Award, as well as the Golden Globe.
Patricia’s thirty-year marriage with Dahl broke up in 1984. Despite this, she still starred a lot. At the end of her film career, Neil took up charity work. The actress died of lung cancer at the age of 84 years.