Actress Clara Bow abandoned fame when she was on top of her career

TAYLOR Swift has dropped her new album The Tortured Poets Department.

Among the long-waited tracks, the Grammy-winning artist has dedicated one to Hollywood icon Clara Bow, but who is she?

4

Clara Bow was the original It GirlCredit: Corbis – Getty

Who was Clara Bow?

A century ago, Clara Bow became Hollywood’s original ‘It Girl’.

Born on July 29, 1905 in a rough neighbourhood in Brooklyn, New York, she rose from poverty to silver screen stardom.

Her dreams to become a movie star materialised when she won a nationwide contest securing her first step into the acting world.

She then landed a role in Beyond the Rainbow (1922), but it didn’t bring instant fame.

But in the mid-1920s she became America’s sweetheart thanks to the popularity of her movies.

The 28-year-old appeared in 46 silent movies and 11 talkies, including hits such as Mantrap.

Despite her success, Bow’s personal life was not without its tribulations.

The actress was under hard scrutiny by the press and was embroiled in various romantic scandals.

The pressure put a toll on her mental and physical health which ultimately pushed her to leave the limelight at the peak of her career.

Taylor Swift’s new album savages her exes
In 1931, she married actor Rex Bell and abandoned Hollywood to seek a quieter life away from the prying eyes of the public in Nevada.

Clara’s final years were spent battling health issues until her death from a heart attack in 1965 at the age of 60.

4

Clara Bow wearing a Dutch girl style outfitCredit: Corbis – Getty

What movie made Clara Bow famous?

The film ‘It’ catapulted Clara to fame and brought a wave of fandom with women across America mimicking her iconic style.

Released in 1927, it starred the actress as a shopgirl who was asked out by the store’s owner.

4

Charles ‘Buddy’ Rogers as Robert de Bellecontre and Clara Bow (1905 – 1965) as Nancy Worthington in the film ‘Get Your Man’Credit: Getty – Contributor
The film was a box office bombshell, and Clara snagged the “It Girl” nickname that stuck with her forever.

She also lit up the screen with other hits like Black Oxen (1923) and The Plastic Age (1925).

Why was Clara Bow a hero?

When Clara was only 16, her mum suffered a head injury and started having epileptic seizures and psychotic attacks.

While living with her family in 1922, she woke up on night to find her mother holding a butcher knife at her throat.

According to the National Museum of American History her mom said: “I’m going to kill ya, Clara. It’ll be better.”

Based on David Stenn biography ‘Clara Bow: Runnin’ Wild’, the actress’ mum was sent to a public asylum.

Why did Taylor Swift write about Clara Bow?

Although the singer hasn’t spoken about it yet, she seems to be attracted to Bow’s story.

The song makes a reference to Clara as a young woman with unique talent who was attacked by the press.

4

Taylor Swift has released 16 new songs included in the new album
Citing her could be a reference that she is the ‘It Girl’ at the moment.

Bow’s great-granddaughters, Nicole Sisneros and Brittany Grace Bells were left in disbelieve when the the US superstar announced the song name in February.

They told People magazine: “We could not believe it. We were shocked and then the intrigue set in because no one from our family has been contacted or knew about this prior.”

Other tracks in the new album include The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived.

In the brutal lyrics, furious Taylor Swift savaged ex-boyfriend Joe Alwyn.

The pair dated for six years, and acidic lyrics on Taylor’s 11th album, titled The Tortured Poets Department, suggest someone cheated on by messaging other people, with the guilty party accused of “sliding into inboxes”.

The savagely titled song features scathing words including: “And you’ll confess why you did it . . . And I’ll say good riddance. ’Cos it wasn’t sexy once it wasn’t forbidden.

“You didn’t measure up in any measure of a man. I would have died for your sins but instead I just died inside.”