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Hollywood Legends
A Girl's Got to Breathe: The Life of Teresa Wright
The actress Teresa Wright (1918-2005) lived a rich, complex, magnificent life against the backdrop of golden age Hollywood, Broadway and television. There was no indication, from her astonishingly difficult indeed, horrifying childhood, of the success that would follow, nor of the universal acclaim and admiration that accompanied her everywhere. Her two marriages to the writers Niven Busch (The Postman Always Rings Twice; Duel in the Sun) and Robert Anderson (Tea and Sympathy; I Never Sang for My Father) provide a good deal of the drama, warmth, poignancy and heartbreak of her life story.
I never wanted to be a star, she told the noted biographer Donald Spoto at dinner in 1978. I wanted only to be an actress. She began acting on the stage in summer stock and repertory at the age of eighteen. When Thornton Wilder and Jed Harris saw her in an ingenue role, she was chosen to understudy the part of Emily in the original production of Our Town (1938), which she then played in touring productions. Samuel Goldwyn saw her first starring role on Broadway in the historic production of Life with Father and at once he offered her a long contract.
She was the only actress to be nominated for an Academy Award for her first three pictures (The Little Foxes; The Pride of the Yankees; and Mrs. Miniver), and she won for the third film. Movie fans and scholars to this day admire her performance in the classics Shadow of a Doubt and The Best Years of Our Lives. The circumstances of her tenure at Goldwyn, and the drama of her breaking that contract, forever changed the treatment of stars.
Wright s family and heirs appointed Spoto as her authorized biographer and offered him exclusive access to her letters and papers. Major supporting players in this story include Robert Anderson, Alfred Hitchcock, William Wyler, Karl Malden, Elia Kazan, Jean Simmons, Dorothy McGuire, Bette Davis, George Cukor, Marlon Brando, George C. Scott, the artist Al Hirschfeld, Stella Adler, and more.
"
I never wanted to be a star, she told the noted biographer Donald Spoto at dinner in 1978. I wanted only to be an actress. She began acting on the stage in summer stock and repertory at the age of eighteen. When Thornton Wilder and Jed Harris saw her in an ingenue role, she was chosen to understudy the part of Emily in the original production of Our Town (1938), which she then played in touring productions. Samuel Goldwyn saw her first starring role on Broadway in the historic production of Life with Father and at once he offered her a long contract.
She was the only actress to be nominated for an Academy Award for her first three pictures (The Little Foxes; The Pride of the Yankees; and Mrs. Miniver), and she won for the third film. Movie fans and scholars to this day admire her performance in the classics Shadow of a Doubt and The Best Years of Our Lives. The circumstances of her tenure at Goldwyn, and the drama of her breaking that contract, forever changed the treatment of stars.
Wright s family and heirs appointed Spoto as her authorized biographer and offered him exclusive access to her letters and papers. Major supporting players in this story include Robert Anderson, Alfred Hitchcock, William Wyler, Karl Malden, Elia Kazan, Jean Simmons, Dorothy McGuire, Bette Davis, George Cukor, Marlon Brando, George C. Scott, the artist Al Hirschfeld, Stella Adler, and more.
"
263 pages, Hardcover
Published February 19, 2016
About the author
Donald Spoto
51 books172 followersA prolific and respected biographer and theologian, Donald Spoto is the author of twenty published books, among them bestselling biographies of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Alfred Hitchcock, Tennessee Williams, and Ingrid Bergman. His books have been translated into more than twenty languages. Donald Spoto earned his Ph.D. in theology at Fordham University. After years as a theology professor, he turned to fulltime writing. The Hidden Jesus: A New Life, published in 1999, was hailed by the Los Angeles Times as "offering a mature faith fit for the new millennium." His successful biography of Saint Francis was published in 2002.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
April 9, 2016
three and one half stars. Although I was fascinated to learn about the breadth of Teresa Wright's career on stage, film and television, this story was at least 150 pages too long.
The author became a personal "friend" of Miss Wright after he interviewed her for his book about Hitchcock and his films. Teresa Wright starred in my second favorite Hitchcock film- Shadow of a Doubt. It was only her second film after The Little Foxes and earned her a second nomination for an Academy Award.
The author has based his book on interviews with family, friends and of course Teresa Wright herself.
I found his asides about his evenings talking to Hollywood and theatre famous people over-indulgent, and at times he was quite repetitive about certain incidents involving Miss Wright and her personal relationship with her second husband, Robert Anderson.
I am eager to see more of Teresa Wright's films and tv appearances. She was a wonderful actress and a bona fide star who never traded on her fame. She remained quite humble throughout her career. She wanted to be remembered as a great actress, not a star.
The author became a personal "friend" of Miss Wright after he interviewed her for his book about Hitchcock and his films. Teresa Wright starred in my second favorite Hitchcock film- Shadow of a Doubt. It was only her second film after The Little Foxes and earned her a second nomination for an Academy Award.
The author has based his book on interviews with family, friends and of course Teresa Wright herself.
I found his asides about his evenings talking to Hollywood and theatre famous people over-indulgent, and at times he was quite repetitive about certain incidents involving Miss Wright and her personal relationship with her second husband, Robert Anderson.
I am eager to see more of Teresa Wright's films and tv appearances. She was a wonderful actress and a bona fide star who never traded on her fame. She remained quite humble throughout her career. She wanted to be remembered as a great actress, not a star.
March 9, 2016
Donald Spoto has done a phenomenal job with this in depth biography of a classic actress who was as complicated and complexed as the roles that she portrayed on screen and on stage.
Spoto starts his introduction stating that he was friends with Teresa Wright and at first their was warning bells but as I divulged into the pages, he has done a totally unbiased view on the life and career on this fascinating woman who was miles ahead of her contemporaries.
Taking source material from interviews from family, friends, co-workers and letters, he has put together a well written biographies that involves the reader into her life. Through her triumphs on screen in her first four roles which include The Little Foxes, Shadow of the Doubt, Mrs Miniver and Pride of the Yankees, we are privy to her strict work codes.
Her personal relationships were both extremely loyal and professional. She is a free spirit that would always put another person first and places herself second which sometimes came at the cost of her career.
From start to finish, this richly written book provides a profile on an actress that is almost forgotten amongst the annuals of true actors which is a shame as she should be adored and loved by the masses from the talent that she had, the strengths for her fellow man and her enormous warmth to the world at large.
This is an excellent biography that should be treasured and loved. It will open a world to the reader from a bygone era and lead you to her death in 2005. I was so taken by this fascinating biography, that I am now going to delve into her film career and rewatch and discover as many of her productions that I can put my hand on.
This is a true winner and a must read.
Spoto starts his introduction stating that he was friends with Teresa Wright and at first their was warning bells but as I divulged into the pages, he has done a totally unbiased view on the life and career on this fascinating woman who was miles ahead of her contemporaries.
Taking source material from interviews from family, friends, co-workers and letters, he has put together a well written biographies that involves the reader into her life. Through her triumphs on screen in her first four roles which include The Little Foxes, Shadow of the Doubt, Mrs Miniver and Pride of the Yankees, we are privy to her strict work codes.
Her personal relationships were both extremely loyal and professional. She is a free spirit that would always put another person first and places herself second which sometimes came at the cost of her career.
From start to finish, this richly written book provides a profile on an actress that is almost forgotten amongst the annuals of true actors which is a shame as she should be adored and loved by the masses from the talent that she had, the strengths for her fellow man and her enormous warmth to the world at large.
This is an excellent biography that should be treasured and loved. It will open a world to the reader from a bygone era and lead you to her death in 2005. I was so taken by this fascinating biography, that I am now going to delve into her film career and rewatch and discover as many of her productions that I can put my hand on.
This is a true winner and a must read.
March 7, 2016
NOTE: I RECEIVED THE E-BOOK OF THIS TITLE FROM NETGALLEY.
I have been a huge fan of Teresa Wright's films from the Golden Age of Hollywood since the 1980s, but knew very little about her before or after. This book remedied that and led me to develop even more respect for her as an actress and as a lady. This book was informative, interesting and entertaining, and the writing was full of facts yet maintained great flow. It's a bit slow in the very beginning, but once I got beyond the opening, I was glad I had! Fascinating insight into the life of a star who deserves to be remembered much more than she is today.
I have been a huge fan of Teresa Wright's films from the Golden Age of Hollywood since the 1980s, but knew very little about her before or after. This book remedied that and led me to develop even more respect for her as an actress and as a lady. This book was informative, interesting and entertaining, and the writing was full of facts yet maintained great flow. It's a bit slow in the very beginning, but once I got beyond the opening, I was glad I had! Fascinating insight into the life of a star who deserves to be remembered much more than she is today.
June 2, 2026
Very interesting story about a very interesting person. Well researched and written made for an enjoyable read.
June 29, 2022
Just finished "A Girl's Gotta Breathe" by Donald Spoto. I could not put it down for days. It's so interesting because of her very very difficult childhood and how she got thru that intact. Also, her quick rise thru theatre and into Goldwyn's group and the great movies she made. Interesting to find out what happened to her movie career and her two marriages. Fortunately, Teresa was not fixated on being a movie star and making lots of money. Well written!
May 20, 2016
Teresa Wright has always been one of my favorite actresses. I have also wondered why she made so few movies, and in this new book by Donald Spoto I have my answers...Teresa began life in an auspicious beginning: people were dying at record numbers from the Spanish Influenza, and she, fortunately, was one of the 'lucky' ones. Her father's job required that he travel frequently, and she was left to the care of a mother who was less than ideal, one who had no problem bringing other men into the bed she shared with her daughter. Her mother vanished early on from her life, and she never spoke of it. It was indeed fortunate for her that her father adored her, and always wanted the best for her.
I mention this because it is those facts of our early youth that begin to shape us as the people we become. Were it not for the love of her father, we may never have heard of Teresa Wright. Yet it left her with indelible scars - I believe she never truly thought herself worth of love and admiration, and it colored her relationships from that point on.
She rose quickly with three stunning movies, The Little Foxes, Mrs. Miniver, and The Pride of the Yankees. She won the Best Supporting Actress Academy Award for Mrs. Miniver, her second film, but was nominated for all three. No actress to date has ever matched that achievement. She followed these with Shadow of a Doubt, directed by Alfred Hitchcock, and my favorite of the four.
There were still movies she did that were very good, and some not so good, but I lay the blame for this on Teresa's bad personal choices: She admitted she should have handled her spat with Samuel Goldwyn differently, and I, for one, think she made bad choices in husbands.
Her first husband, the screenwriter Niven Busch, was an arrogant man who cared more about himself than he did her. I believe he may have loved her, but he put his needs and wants first - even if that meant moving her so far from Hollywood as to make the daily journey impossible. (He wanted a ranch and chose one that was 350 miles away, which was quite a commute even then). Her second husband, another screenwriter named Bob Anderson, never recovered from his first wife's death and made constant comparisons between her and Teresa. It didn't matter to him that it hurt Teresa; another man who put himself first, and his marriage second.
So Teresa, even though she was happy raising her two children, still longed to act and never again achieved the fame she had as a young girl in Hollywood. Although it never tainted her personally, and she remained kind to others throughout her life, I have to wonder what would have happened if she had developed a stronger personality - would she have been a bigger star? Would either of her marriages failed? Alas, we will never know the answer to those questions.
When all is said and done, this is a wonderful book by Mr. Spoto. There was intensive research done, and contributions by both of Ms. Wright's children and her own letters, friends' quotes, etc. For anyone interested in the meteoric rise of Ms. Wright, or for those who have not seen any of her films, I suggest you rent one immediately and see what a wonderful actress she was. Highly recommended.
http://joannesbooks.blogspot.com/2016...
I mention this because it is those facts of our early youth that begin to shape us as the people we become. Were it not for the love of her father, we may never have heard of Teresa Wright. Yet it left her with indelible scars - I believe she never truly thought herself worth of love and admiration, and it colored her relationships from that point on.
She rose quickly with three stunning movies, The Little Foxes, Mrs. Miniver, and The Pride of the Yankees. She won the Best Supporting Actress Academy Award for Mrs. Miniver, her second film, but was nominated for all three. No actress to date has ever matched that achievement. She followed these with Shadow of a Doubt, directed by Alfred Hitchcock, and my favorite of the four.
There were still movies she did that were very good, and some not so good, but I lay the blame for this on Teresa's bad personal choices: She admitted she should have handled her spat with Samuel Goldwyn differently, and I, for one, think she made bad choices in husbands.
Her first husband, the screenwriter Niven Busch, was an arrogant man who cared more about himself than he did her. I believe he may have loved her, but he put his needs and wants first - even if that meant moving her so far from Hollywood as to make the daily journey impossible. (He wanted a ranch and chose one that was 350 miles away, which was quite a commute even then). Her second husband, another screenwriter named Bob Anderson, never recovered from his first wife's death and made constant comparisons between her and Teresa. It didn't matter to him that it hurt Teresa; another man who put himself first, and his marriage second.
So Teresa, even though she was happy raising her two children, still longed to act and never again achieved the fame she had as a young girl in Hollywood. Although it never tainted her personally, and she remained kind to others throughout her life, I have to wonder what would have happened if she had developed a stronger personality - would she have been a bigger star? Would either of her marriages failed? Alas, we will never know the answer to those questions.
When all is said and done, this is a wonderful book by Mr. Spoto. There was intensive research done, and contributions by both of Ms. Wright's children and her own letters, friends' quotes, etc. For anyone interested in the meteoric rise of Ms. Wright, or for those who have not seen any of her films, I suggest you rent one immediately and see what a wonderful actress she was. Highly recommended.
http://joannesbooks.blogspot.com/2016...
April 7, 2016
Quite an interesting read on an actress I've always admired, starting with, "Pride of the Yankees," with Gary Cooper. If you love films from the late 1930-40s you'll enjoy this book. However, it's quite detailed and might be a little long for those not wanting to know everything.
Thanks to Netgalley, publisher and author for this advanced look.
Thanks to Netgalley, publisher and author for this advanced look.
May 16, 2016
Thankfully someone has written a bio of this talented actress. The author knew her during her late years, and his friendship gets in the way a bit. He spends too much time talking about the rift between Wright and her second husband.
April 28, 2016
Nice memories from someone who knew her.
September 16, 2016
Just okay
December 6, 2023
I'm a big fan of Teresa Wright, based on just a few films I've seen her in: Shadow of a Doubt, The Best Years of Our Lives, The Pride of the Yankees, and Mrs. Miniver. Something that has always impressed me with her roles is the intelligence she brings to each of her characters. Wright is not a cheesecake, pinup girl- her characters were all believable, realistic women at a time when the glamour gals were more in favor. Thank goodness she was recognized as a major acting talent.
Except for her beginnings and the sad non-relationship with her mother, Wright's life seemed more like any working woman's life, rather than a Hollywood movie star's. Spoto emphasizes Wright's love of acting and the integrity she brought to the profession and her roles, which is greatly appreciated. But she was only human after all, and had "man trouble" with her two husbands. It really doesn't play as a very exciting or even interesting life, save for the fact that she was a unique professional.
I enjoyed learning about Wright's life, but this book has it laid out as a pretty mundane life of an ordinary woman who happened to have an incredible talent. I guess that's okay.
Except for her beginnings and the sad non-relationship with her mother, Wright's life seemed more like any working woman's life, rather than a Hollywood movie star's. Spoto emphasizes Wright's love of acting and the integrity she brought to the profession and her roles, which is greatly appreciated. But she was only human after all, and had "man trouble" with her two husbands. It really doesn't play as a very exciting or even interesting life, save for the fact that she was a unique professional.
I enjoyed learning about Wright's life, but this book has it laid out as a pretty mundane life of an ordinary woman who happened to have an incredible talent. I guess that's okay.
January 1, 2020
This was an engaging biography on actress Teresa Wright, whose career spanned about five decades. A huge plus for this bio is that the author knew Teresa and her second husband, Bob Anderson incredibly well. Many of the quotes and notes are directly from Teresa, Bob, and others first-hand. The prologue was a bit rough- it took 10 pages to even mention Teresa Wright. The book does tend to meander in the beginning but it smooths out. All in all, it kept my interest, and I would recommend it to others.
June 14, 2024
Love Teresa Wright
She was just one of those great actresses that you're so happy is a nice person also. I was sorry that neither of her husbands treated her that well when they were married to her. I am glad that her second husband, Robert Anderson helped her out after their divorce, and they remained friends.. and she too helped him also. I was not surprised that she had so many friends and that so many people loved her.
She was just one of those great actresses that you're so happy is a nice person also. I was sorry that neither of her husbands treated her that well when they were married to her. I am glad that her second husband, Robert Anderson helped her out after their divorce, and they remained friends.. and she too helped him also. I was not surprised that she had so many friends and that so many people loved her.
November 17, 2018
From the first paragraph, this book fascinated me. This is a very good telling of the life of one of Hollywood’s premiere star actresses, Teresa Wright. The writing is clear, intelligent, and straightforward.
Though I only read a sample of
Though I only read a sample of
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews