The best novels about female stars who made a difference

Having written my own book, I was anxious to read about other stars of Hollywood’s Golden Age. The Only Woman in the Room, the story of Hedy Lamarr, didn’t disappoint. Hedwig Kiesler was an Austrian stage actress when Fritz Mandl, a wealthy arms dealer, began to court her. Of Jewish background, Hedy’s parents thought Mandl would protect the family from the rising Nazi threat. As Mandl’s wife, Hedy attended meetings in which weaponry and the secret maneuverings of the Third Reich were discussed. She was “the only woman in the room.” No one expected her to understand the conversations, but Hedy had a keen interest in science. After she escaped Austria and landed in Hollywood, becoming the famed Hedy Lamarr, she devised a plan to thwart the Nazi war machine.  

A novel about Marlene Dietrich held a natural attraction for me, as Dietrich was one of Dolores del Río’s close friends in Hollywood. Gortner paints a vivid picture of decadence in pre-War Berlin, where Dietrich finds work in music halls. There, she meets Joseph von Sternberg, who casts her as the lead of The Blue Angel, the film that launches her career. As antisemitism grows in Germany, von Sternberg, who is Jewish, leaves for Hollywood, and Dietrich follows him. Paramount Pictures finds in her the answer to MGM’s sexy Swedish star, Greta Garbo, and casts her in one hit after the other. When Hitler approaches her to make propaganda films for the Nazis, Dietrich courageously rebuffs him, opting instead to become an American citizen and entertain Allied troops. 

I have never had much interest in Marilyn Monroe, but as an author of biofiction, I was curious about the narrative techniques Oates used to recount her life. To my surprise, I found myself profoundly moved by Monroe’s story. Oates depicts the young Norma Jean Baker as an intelligent but innocent girl propelled into the limelight by her looks. Abandoned by her father and abused by her mother, she craves affection, clinging to those who appear to love her but only want to use her. Studio magnates transform her into Marilyn Monroe, a thoroughly artificial creation. By switching strategically from first- to third-person narrative, Oates brilliantly captures the conflict between the breathy, sensuous star, and the real Norma Jean underneath, insecure and uncomfortable with the phoniness of her Hollywood persona.   

As Hollywood’s first Latina star, Dolores del Río broke down barriers for Hispanic women, just as Josephine Baker opened doors for Black women. Baker arrived in Paris just when French artists were cultivating Primitivism, and French intellectuals were fascinated with Africa. Performing her Danse Sauvage in the Revue Nègre and then at the Follies Bergères, Baker became an instant sensation and fabulously wealthy. She owned homes, clubs, cars, and even an airplane. When World War II erupted, she became a spy for the Resistance. Later, when she returned to the U.S., she became a civil rights activist. Sherry Jones brings to life this extraordinary woman, who triumphed over poverty, prejudice, domestic violence, and even Nazi racial targeting.  

I thoroughly enjoyed Elizabeth Letts’s behind-the-scenes look at the making of The Wizard of Oz, one of my favorite films. The story revolves around the efforts of Maud, the widow of Frank Baum, author of the original novel, to ensure that MGM remains true to Frank’s vision. At first, the choice of Judy Garland to play the lead seems totally wrong, as the girl is too old for the part. However, when Maud hears Judy rehearsing “Over the Rainbow,” she recognizes an authentic longing. Furthermore, Judy is receptive to Maud’s suggestions and wants to play the role right. Although Judy seems confident on set, Maud recognizes in her an unhappy, insecure girl who is struggling to cope with the death of her father and is dominated by her overbearing mother.