astrognossienne
“I don’t care what they say about me after I’m dead, so long as they say something! Say anything about me, darling, as long as it isn’t boring.” - Tallulah Bankhead She was the biggest Hollywood star that never really was. Ever since I saw her brilliant portrayal of the cold and ruthless, yet fiery Regina Giddens in Lillian Hellman's The Little Foxes, I had to know more about Tallulah Bankhead. Bankhead combined the morally inverting wit of Oscar Wilde, the drawling decadence of Tennessee Williams and the tragic shadow of Blanche DuBois, a character she claimed Williams wrote just for her. Hollywood’s original wild child, Bankhead was an atypical southerner, championing civil rights way before it was popular, and was a devout Democrat, anti-Communist and liberal. Born into an old Southern family, Bankhead grew up overshadowed by her prettier older sister. She compensated by being outspoken and outrageous, a habit which would make her a star of the London stage and a subject of gossip columns. Her name was linked during her lifetime with many people (the notches on Bankhead’s bedpost were rumored to add up to at least 500, maybe even 5,000) and she carefully nurtured her wild reputation. She was also known for using cocaine and often mentioned that she did. She carried on affairs with both sexes, smoked, drank, and drugged to excess, and claimed to have only come to Hollywood “to f*ck that divine Gary Cooper”. The first actress to screen test for the role of Scarlett O’Hara in Gone With the Wind, Bankhead herself was an "accessible" icon. She reveled in her fans' idolatry and always acknowledged them, on-stage or off. A true diva, she clashed with most of the actors in the plays and movies she was cast in and many of them would not show up for performances until the very last minute to avoid her tantrums. Despite Bankhead’s demanding and extreme temperament, she enjoyed great professional success during the 1940s. Her typical Aquarian uniqueness, frivolity and irreverence, however, was a veneer for the tragedies and ghosts that haunted her life: Bankhead’s mother dying shortly after giving birth to her and the lifelong resentment of her congressman father, the sexual assault that occurred when she was a teenager, the case of the clap that left her sterile before she was 30 and the string of loveless affairs concealing a tender, co*ked-up heart. In the end, her last discernible words were "codeine, bourbon". While most of her contemporaries have long since been forgotten, the untamed and outspoken Tallulah has proven hard to shake. Tallulah Bankhead, according to astrotheme, was an Aquarius sun and Scorpio moon. Bankhead’s mother, Adelaide (or "Ada" as she was called) was already engaged to another man when she met William Bankhead on a trip to Huntsville, Alabama to shop for her wedding dress. Will and Ada fell in love at first sight and, following a whirlwind romance, were married on January 31, 1900 in Memphis, Tennessee. Two years to the day, she was born in Huntsville, Alabama; her older sister Eugenia was born a year before. She was named after her paternal grandmother, who, in turn, was named after the town of Tallulah Falls in Georgia. The Bankheads were a prominent Alabama political family. Tallulah's grandfather, John Hollis Bankhead, was a Confederate veteran and a U.S. senator. Tallulah's uncle John was also a Senator and her father would serve as a U.S. Representative and Speaker of the House. Her mother died of complications from childbirth several weeks later, and she was raised in part by her aunts and grandparents. Bankhead was an admittedly bad-tempered baby turned defiant child. Made to feel inadequate by her older, thinner, prettier sister, Tallulah did everything she could think of for attention. Her boisterous behaviour rankled everyone's nerves, especially her grandmother. Today, Tallulah would be probably be diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder. She soon discovered at an early age that theatrics were a viable outlet for gaining the attention she craved. A series of throat and chest infections—whooping cough, measles, pneumonia, the mumps—left her with the famous voice that would become her trademark. In later years, Bankhead once made the statement, in conversation, that she had been raped when she was eleven. She said she could still remember and feel the gravel driveway where it happened, although there was no supporting witness, and no friend in whom she confided at the time. Though her family wasn’t even Catholic, the uncontrollable Bankhead was sent away to convents, where she was twice expelled: once for throwing ink at the Mother Superior and again, at age 12, for making romantic advances towards a nun. At 15, perhaps due to her “manic narcissism,” Bankhead submitted her photo to Picture Play magazine and won a small part in a movie, as well as a trip to New York. With her lax Aunt Louise as chaperone, Bankhead took a room at the then unremarkable Algonquin Hotel. Her father used his influence and connections to help secure Tallulah's first stage role. In the meantime, she was a hit on the social scene. Though her acting was praised, the plays she was cast in were commercially and critically unsuccessful. Bankhead had been in New York for five years, but had yet to score a significant hit. Restless, Bankhead moved to London, making her debut on stage in 1923. Her fame as an actress was ensured in 1924 when she played Amy in Sidney Howard's They Knew What They Wanted. Bankhead returned to the United States in 1931, renting a home in Hollywood. She befriended famed director George Cukor and began hosting parties that were said to "have no boundaries". She found film-making to be very boring and did not have the patience for it. Promiscuity came naturally to Tallulah and she went to bed with anyone who was interested. She professed to having a ravenous appetite for sex, but not for a particular type: In Hollywood, Tallulah rented William Haines' former house, hired three black servants, and prepared for her fourth Paramount film, Thunder Below. It fared worse than any of her previous films. Tallulah may have been miserable in her professional life, but she didn't let that affect her private life. She indeed met Gary Cooper and even made a film with him, Devil and the Deep, Returning to Broadway, Bankhead worked steadily in a series of middling plays which were, ironically, later turned into highly successful Hollywood films starring other actresses. But Bankhead persevered, even through ill health. In 1933, while performing in Jezebel, Bankhead nearly died following a five-hour emergency hysterectomy due to gonorrhea, which she claimed she had contracted from either Gary Cooper or tough-guy actor George Raft. However, she had so many sexual partners at the time that it is impossible to know the truth. Hollywood was becoming increasingly conservative partly as a result from past scandals with their stars and because Will Hays had formed the infamous Production Code. The Code dictated not only what the studios could show in their films, but how their actors must conduct themselves off the screen. Bankhead was cited in the Hays Committee's "Doom Book", a list of 150 actors and actresses considered "unsuitable for the public" which was presented to the studios. Bankhead was at the top of the list with the heading: "Verbal Moral Turpitude". In return, she publicly called Hays "a little prick". Tallulah finally achieved triumph with The Little Foxes in 1939. The Lillian Hellman classic told the story of the Hubbard family, whose lives are controlled by hatred and greed. Tallulah played Regina Giddens, a cold and self-centered social climber who stops at nothing to gain a foothold in Chicago society, even if it means destroying her family. Tallulah received tremendous praise for her performance and she won the Variety Award for Best Actress of the Season. The play enjoyed a long run (408 performances), followed by a year- long road tour. Tallulah also made a small fortune from the play as she demanded her usual ten percent of the grosses. Tallulah's next antic shocked everyone - to placate her father, she announced that she was getting married. She had been mesmerized by actor John Emery when she saw him on stage in Busman's Holiday in Westport, Connecticut. Tallulah met him after the play and invited him to spend the weekend with her. He moved in with her shortly afterward.In reality, Tallulah was never interested in "settling down" with any man and, after a rocky four years together (and her father’s death in the fall of 1940), the couple divorced in 1941. By 1950, Tallulah was a household name who was frequently mentioned in the press, whether it was to report on her latest political involvement or simply to relate another humorous anecdote. Though Bankhead's career slowed in the mid-1950s, she never faded from the public eye. Her highly public and often scandalous personal life began to undermine her reputation as a terrific actress, leading to criticism she had become a caricature of herself. In early 1967, television producer Bill Dozier asked Tallulah to appear on his program, Batman. She would be paid $20,000 to appear in a two-part episode portraying the villainous "Black Widow". In 1968, Bankhead returned to her New York apartment and, in December, she contracted the Asian flu. She didn't respond to antibiotics and was placed in the hospital. After developing pneumonia and falling into a coma, she was placed in intensive care where she died on December 12, 1968, at age 66. After her death, it was revealed that she was not as poor as she often claimed; she left an estate valued at almost 2 million dollars. Half of the estate went to her long-time friend, Eugenia Rawls and her husband, Donald Seawell. Tallulah also also left generous portions to other good friends Jesse Levy, Estelle Winwood and Edie Smith. Tallulah's long-suffering sister, Eugenia, with whom she always had a strained relationship, had long fallen out of favour and was left $5,000 and a monthly allowance of $250. Next, I focus on another scandalous figure of the early 20th century and the center of Hollywood's greatest real-life murder mystery: Taurus William Desmond Taylor. birthdate: January 31, 1902 major planets: Overall personality snapshot: She had a powerful, magnetic personality which had a hypnotic effect on many people. Her character possessed a compelling blend of broad social-intellectual concerns and passionate self-interest; detached idealism and dark cynicism, the latter based on an intimate understanding of her own appetites and emotional needs. In general a ‘people’ person and an avid student of human nature, she was popular because the intensity of her personality rarely let up. Her obsessive individualism commanded recognition – she convinced people of her importance and capability, inspiring some to follow her to the ends of the Earth. Indeed, she may have had the magnetism of a demi-god and the confidence of a guru, but when she conquered an unbalanced desire for power and developed a more impartial approach her achievements will have had longer-lasting success. Freedom from obsessive self-interest should have been her aim. A sort of commanding haughtiness and inner conviction that she was ‘It’ usually drew people into her spell. But she was equally capable of detached withdrawal and even contempt, especially if her ego has been injured or unfairly treated. She may have tried to rise above petty feelings, but she could carry resentment around inside for a long time if injustice has been done. It was important that her conscious, rational Aquarian side, which ‘knew’ itself to be fully self-determined and uniquely in charge of her life, come to understand and respect her proud, emotionally possessive, instinctively voracious Scorpio side, whose primitive needs, if unmet, led to manipulative behaviour that undermined her chances for emotional fulfillment. In order for her to maintain peace between these two sides of herself, she needed to dig down deep to see what buried assumptions and denied needs were at the root of a possible mind/feeling split. Like Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, her intellectual and creative potential was enormous as long as both sides were working harmoniously together instead of living unconnected and mutually antagonistic lives – and this could only come for her through profound self-knowledge. Her Aquarian sun was the rational scientist; her Scorpio moon the hungry sensualist. Being deeply rooted in both realms gave her powerful insight into the vast spectrum of human nature. She was a good investigator of the human psyche and/or body, and she had the instincts of the reformer who saw the hidden potential in the discarded souls of life and could facilitate in their transformation. Her body was neat and wiry, and she used neat and economical movements. Her well-groomed appearance was mirrored in her cool and classic way of dressing, good posture, fine bone structure and animated expression. Physically, she possessed good stamina. She tended to look younger than she really was, all the way through into her later years. She was an intelligent, bold thinker who was attracted to new and avant-garde ideas. Her mental application might have been slightly erratic, but it was often brilliant. She detested being pigeonholed or categorized. She hated being told what to think, as intellectual independence was vitally important to her. She loved to talk and to travel, so with her able to combine these two in her job as an actress, she was happy. She needed to have a fair degree of variety and change within her job, and the aspect of travel may have satisfied this. In whatever job she would have done, she would always have been the perpetual student, as long as the subject was interesting enough. Her sense of duty and responsibility were well-developed. Her powers of concentration were strong, and she was an honest person. She could be extremely efficient in the way that she tried to get maximum result out of minimum effort. She didn’t like extravagance and waste. She was a thoughtful and resourceful person, who was well-informed on many subjects. Success came gradually and as a result of hard work. Success and growth, for her, were expressed by material and financial achievements, bringing status and prestige. Worldly success was well within her reach, because she possessed all the necessary talents to gain power, influence and status. She was practical, determined and patient. When there were hitches in her plans, she simply worked around them. She knew where she was heading to, and had already figured out the best way to use her talents to reach her goals. Although she could be fairly pessimistic about life in general, it didn’t put her off aiming for the top. She could be very single-minded about reaching her goals, and was prepared to put her career interests above her personal happiness. She was extremely aware of his own worth. She was prepared to work beyond the call of duty. Her strong sense of ambition gave her a certain rigidity, arrogance and selfishness in the eyes of others. She belonged to a generation with fiery enthusiasm for new and innovative ideas and concepts. Rejecting the past and its mistakes, she sought new ideals and people to believe in. As a member of this generation, she felt restless and adventurous, and was attracted towards foreign people, places and cultures. As a member of the Gemini Neptune generation, her restless mind pushed her to explore new intellectual fields. She loved communication and the occult and was likely also fascinated by metaphysical phenomena and astrology. As a Gemini Plutonian, she was mentally restless and willing to examine and change old doctrines, ideas and ways of thinking. As a member of this generation, she showed an amount of mental vitality, originality and perception. Traditional customs and taboos were examined and rejected for newer and more original ways of doing things. As opportunities with education expanded, she questioned more and learned more. As a member of this generation, having more than one occupation at a time would not have been unusual to her. Love/sex life: She was the least intellectual of the Aquarius Martian lovers. She gets emotionally involved with her ideals and she fell in love with abstractions. This ability to link ideas with feelings allowed her to surround the person she loved with an amazing edifice of beauty and refinement in accordance with her idealized and highly romantic preconception about love. It can be a beautiful thing but it rarely lasts. People had a bad habit of stepping out of the sugar-coated world she’s created in her mind and behaving like human beings, leaving her confused and disappointed. She was also one of the most emotionally vulnerable of the Mars in Aquarius lovers and, for this reason, she was often more cautious and conservative in her romantic choices than was typical with this type. She had to protect her tender feelings. If she decided to defy convention it would have been because of overwhelming emotional necessity and not just because she wanted to see how other people reacted. But, given the combination of her sensuous and extremely affectionate nature and her uncompromising commitment to her romantic ideals, if and when she did choose to get radical about sex her actions invariably drew a lot of attention. minor asteroids and points: Her North Node in Scorpio dictated that she needed to be careful not to let the more emotional side of her personality overwhelm her. Instead, she should have set out to consciously develop her more practical abilities. Her Lilith in Scorpio meant that she liked life intense and was judged for her sexuality and general vibe and learned early on how to deflect moral judgments. She may have been tried in the court of public opinion but no way was she going to show up for the sentencing. She seduced and conquered on a daily basis. She was fearless as an actress and otherwise. Her Part of Fortune in Sagittarius and Part of Spirit in Gemini dictated that her destiny lay in seeking truth, justice and fairness in any given situation. Fortune came through higher education, travel and philosophy. She found her greatest fortune in places far from her home. Happiness and success came from looking outside herself. Her soul’s purpose asked her to communicate fully and explore all forms of learning and knowledge. She felt spiritual connections and the spark of the divine through words and writing. East Point in Virgo dictated that she was most likely to personally identify with the need to work and to be pragmatic. She needed early responsibilities (which were within her capabilities). She tended to feel guilty when not working, as if she should be contributing in some way. She was generally identified with her work (“I am what I do.”) and with a performance orientation. If carried too far, this led to excessive self-criticism. When done in moderation, she was simply very practical and realistic, usually worked hard and saw life and herself clearly. Vertex in Pisces, 6th house reveals that she had an internal yearning to personally interact with humankind. Her unspoken concept of intimacy blended in an almost mystical way with a need to alleviate suffering, accompanied by an indescribable capacity for compassion. She empathized with the tribulations of others. Her sexuality was often intense only because it is a natural part of human interaction and sometimes the only way to alleviate another's pain, however, briefly. There was a limit to how much she put up with, after all she was only human too. She had an attitude of duty, obligation and sacrifice when it came to heartfelt interactions. Here we often find associations unconsciously based on a medical or religious model of service and sometimes even sainthood. The negative side was the tendency to become hypochondriacal or martyristic to get the love she so desperately wanted. There was a need for others to appreciate the sincerity of her intentions, to the daily tasks she executed in a conscientious and caring way and for others to know that her actions, no matter how routine they may seem, awere based on devoted love. elemental dominance: She was communicative, quick and mentally agile, and she liked to stir things up. She was likely a havoc-seeker on some level. She was oriented more toward thinking than feeling. She carried information and the seeds of ideas. Out of balance, she lived in her head and could be insensitive to the feelings of others. But at her best, she helped others form connections in all spheres of their daily lives. She was a practical, reliable woman and could provide structure and protection. She was oriented toward practical experience and thought in terms of doing rather than thinking, feeling, or imagining. Could be materialistic, unimaginative, and resistant to change. But at her best, she provided the practical resources, analysis, and leadership to make dreams come true. modality dominance: She wasn’t particularly interested in spearheading new ventures or dealing with the day-to-day challenges of organization and management. She excelled at performing tasks and producing outcomes. She was flexible and liked to finish things. Was also likely undependable, lacking in initiative, and disorganized. Had an itchy restlessness and an unwillingness to buckle down to the task at hand. Probably had a chronic inability to commit—to a job, a relationship, or even to a set of values. house dominants: Her life had an emphasis on creativity and self-expression. This included new beginnings; in fact, it included any way in which her creativity manifested itself. It showed how she was special and stood out. Also indicated an emphasis on leisure activities and holidays, gambling and speculation, romance and courtship, entertainment, sport, and sex. Her ambition in relation to the outside world, the identity she wished to achieve in regard to the community at large, and her career aspirations were all themes that were emphasized throughout her life. All matters outside the home, her public image and reputation were very important to her. Her attitude to people in authority, and how she viewed the outside world, as well as the influence of her mother and her own attitude to her was highlighted. The domestic arena and the home were emphasized in her life. By extension, the influence of the family she was born into, and the parents that raised her, in particular her father, as well as her personal and private life was of paramount importance to her. planet dominants: She was of a contemplative nature, particularly receptive to ambiances, places, and people. She gladly cultivated the art of letting go, and allowed the natural unfolding of events to construct her world. She followed her inspirations, for better or for worse. She was intelligent, mentally quick, and had excellent verbal acuity. She dealt in terms of logic and reasoning. It was likely that she was left-brained. She was restless, craved movement, newness, and the bright hope of undiscovered terrains. She was unique and protected her individuality. She had disruptions appear in her life that brought unpleasant and unexpected surprises and she immersed herself in areas of her life in which these disruptions occur. Change galvanized her. She was inventive, creative, and original. sign dominants: She was an original thinker, often eccentric, who prized individuality and freedom above all else. Her compassion, while genuine, rose from the intellect rather than the heart. She was hard to figure out because she was so often a paradox. She was patient but impatient; a nonconformist who conformed when it suited her; rebellious but peace-loving; stubborn and yet compliant when she wanted to be. She chafed at the restrictions placed upon her by society and sought to follow her own path. She ventured out to see what else was there and seized upon new ideas that expanded her community. Her innate curiosity kept her on the move. She used her rational, intellectual mind to explore and understand her personal world. She needed to answer the single burning question in her mind: why? This applied to most facets of her life, from the personal to the impersonal. This need to know sent her off to foreign countries, where her need to explore other cultures and traditions ranked high. She was changeable and often moody. This meant that she was often at odds with herself—the mind demanding one thing, the heart demanding the opposite. To someone else, this internal conflict often manifested as two very different people. She was a discriminating, attractive, thorough, scientific, hygienic, humane, scientific woman and had the highest standards. Her attention to detail was second to none and she had a deeply penetrative and investigative mind. Read more about her under the cut."I've tried several varieties of sex. The conventional position makes me claustrophobic. And the others give me either stiff neck or lockjaw."
STATS
#star analyses#aquarius#tallulah bankhead#scandalous stars#astrology#long ass post#mine
