How Hollywood star Dolores Hart shook the foundations of the "dream factory"
We are used to the fact that world-class stars leave their careers at a very old age. They spend their whole lives basking in glory and enjoying well-deserved success. But there are exceptions. Actress Dolores Hart left Hollywood at the peak of her fame and became a nun. Her decision stirred up American society and broke many well-established stereotypes.
Dolores Hart was born in 1937 in the family of actor Bert Hicks and his wife Harriet. Since childhood, Dolly has watched how brightly the star life passes, and dreamed of a big movie. When her parents divorced, the girl was raised by her grandparents. They were zealous Catholics and did not approve of their granddaughter's passion for cinema. Dolores was sent to study at St. George's Catholic School in Chicago. After finishing it, the girl returned to her mother in Beverly Hills and graduated from college.
In the mid-50s, Dolly decided that it was time to realize a childhood dream. She started going to film auditions, and in 1956 she was lucky. She wasn't just approved for the role. Her partner in the film "Loving You" was Elvis Presley himself. In one episode, Hart kissed the king of rock and roll for 15 seconds, and it immediately made her famous. Rumors began to spread that Hart and Presley is having an affair, even though it was just a working relationship on set.
A successful start opened the doors to cinema for Dolores Hart. Offers from different directors poured in one after another. However, the young actress did not get serious roles. She played frivolous beauties, of the same type and not memorable. Everything changed when Hart started acting in musical comedies. It was a very popular genre in the USA of the 50s and 60s and the actress finally became a star.
Her film career lasted 10 years. During this time, Hart played the main roles in 6 films. Three of them, "King Creole", "Lonely Hearts" (1958), "Where the Guys Are" (1960) were highly appreciated by critics and viewers. The actress was also remembered for the film "Francis of Azis". In it, she played a woman who abandoned her family and the usual way of life for the sake of a preacher.
Hart's last film work was the film "Fly with Me", released in 1963. Immediately after the filming was completed, Dolores did the unimaginable. She left Los Angeles for the provincial town of Bethlehem in Connecticut. There, the 25-year-old movie star took monastic vows at the Benedictine monastery of Regina Laudis.
Hart's unexpected move caused a real storm of rumors and speculation. It was even said that the actress became pregnant by Elvis Presley and went to give birth away from prying eyes and annoying journalists. Before leaving, Hart broke off her engagement to Don Robinson. Interestingly, the man respectfully accepted his fiancee's decision. He never remarried and visited Dolores at the convent until his death.
For several years of a successful career in Hollywood, Hart has made a good fortune. She gave all her money and property to the family of her close friend, actor Karl Malden. Later, in her memoirs, Dolores told about her decision to enter a monastery as follows:
Hart also admitted that her decision to leave the mundane life was not spontaneous. She thought about it for a year before she made a final decision. Now Sister Dolores is 85 years old and she still lives in the monastery. She says she is absolutely happy. It's not hard to believe, looking at the photos of this woman, in which her face illuminates joy and peace.
Interestingly, Dolores Hart is the only nun in history who is a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences of the USA. She even has the right to vote when awarding the Oscar.