Natasha: The Biography of Natalie Wood
by Suzanne Finstad
Anyone who even only saw 'Gypsy' (1962) would have been taken by this seemingly fresh, stunning talent. But this child veteran screen legend had already long since cemented her place in the Hollywood history with great films like 'Miracle on 34th Street' (1947).
Born in San Francisco to Russian immigrant parents, Wood also spoke Russian and was proud of her heritage. She was pushed as a toddler, by her mother, into films.
At nine she was named the 'most exciting juvenile motion picture star of the year'. Three years on, she was judged Child Star of the Year by the Children's Day National Council of New York.
Successfully transitioning from child star to ingenue at sixteen, she co-starred with James Dean and Sal Mineo in 'Rebel Without a Cause', (1955). For this Natalie was nominated for a Best Supporting Actress Academy Award.
In 1961, Wood played Maria in the musical 'West Side Story', a major box office and critical success. That same year she appeared opposite Warren Beatty in Elia Kazan's 'Splendor in the Grass', earning Best Actress Nominations at the Academy Awards, Golden Globes and BAFTAs.
She managed longevity as well as was possible, maturing appropriately into more adult productions like 'Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice' (1969), a comedy about sexual liberation.
After that she got the idea into her head that family must come first, that her movie career was finished. Had she lived into old age she may well have become what actresses like the wonderful Lauren Bacall did - a living legend. She was already close.
There was her extraordinary beauty, her two marriages to the one man, heart throb Robert Wagner and, finally, her tragic premature death by drowning, fulfilling her worst fear (of water).
This is a well-researched, quality biography that does Natalie justice. We are left feeling informed, satisfied, without having intruded too crassly into this star's personal life. We feel we have celebrated a likeable woman with a fascinating career. And a little sad for her.
A tasteful tribute by a classy writer on a true and timeless star.
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