Claudette Colbert

About me:

~One of the brightest film stars to ever grace the screen~ I Emilie Claudette Chauchoin was born on September 13, 1903 In Paris, France. I was soon nicknamed "Lily" by my family. My Father " George Claude Chauchoin" (1867-1925) a banker and diplomat decided to move our family to the United States. I was three years old when we settled in New York City. After my father had some financial setbacks he decided to have me become a naturlized citizen of U.S. My mother was Jeanne Loew and she was a wonderful pastry cook at the time. After my graduation from Washington Irving High School in New York City I had orginally intended on a career in art. So I started studying at the Art Student's League. I worked as a stenographer, a dress shop employee, and a tutor in order to pay my expenses. I had intended on becoming a fashion designer when a friend of mine "Anne Morrison" a known playwright invited me to a party as her guest. I was then only eighteen when Anne offered me a three-line bit part in her new play called "The Wild Westcotts". This took place in 1923 and it was just a very small role. After my first acting experience I was intrigued and inspired to end my art aspirations and embark on a stage career which I began two short years later in 1925. I decided to use my middle name when I began my acting career "Claudette" and also took my paternal grandmother's maiden name Colbert. So there you have it that's how I became known as Claudette Colbert. I scored my first big break in 1926 on Broadway in a production called "The Barker". I received critical acclaim for my role in which I played a duplicitous snake charmer. I had signed a five-year contract with a producer named Albert H. Woods and I played on Broadyway from 1925-1929. One year later, I was offered to make my first film a Silent film made at Long Island's Astoria studio, called "For the Love of Mike" (1927). This film was unsuccessful and I hated the entire experience and loathed the director, a Mr. Frank Capra. So I went back to working on Broadway. I was then offered in 1928 a film contract with Paramount Pictures and this was during the talkie revolution. So I took a role in a film called "The Hole in the Wall" which also starred a Mr. Edward G. Robinson whom also was making his first talking film debut. Once again, I really didn't like the acting experience at all but audiences saw something in me I guess I didn't. So I decided to stick with it. Soon my popularity at the studio took off and my salary skyrocketed after I was cast in a film named " The Sign of the Cross" (1932). I went on to make several more successful films, I had made a wopping 17 films playing diverse roles in approximatley four films per year. I was then approached my Mr. Frank Capra to play a spoiled heiress Ellie Andrews in " It Happened One Night" in 1934. I almost refused the role but I wearily agreed to appear in the film on the condition that I be paid twice my normal salary. At the time it was the worst experience of my life doing this film, however The Academy of Motion Pictures nominated the film in virtually all major categories, including a Best Actress Award in which I won the Oscar. Which was the shock of my life, I was so surprised and humbled. I went to spend the next decade alternating between comedy and dramas, frequently in the company of my soon to be dear friend and co-star Fred MacMurray. I gave 110% of my engeries to acting and was known for wanting to only be shot by the camera on my left side my "good side" I called it. At times I had the entire production crew in a tizzy when I insisted on certain camera angles to achieve my "good side" shots. I guess my desire to look my best on film caused many a headache. I went on to make some more successful films one included is the renowned Cecile B DeMille's Cleopatra. I was then loaned out by Paramount to Universal to make Imitation of Life in 1934 my third box office success of the year. Both of these films won Academy Award nominations for Best Picture. I was also nominated for the Best Actress in 1936 for my work in "Private Worlds", and in 1945 for Since you Went Away. I was listed in the annual " Quigley Poll of the Top Ten Money Making Stars", throughout the U.S. for generating the most revenue in theatres. From 1935-1954 I starred in numerous productions as a part of the CBS Lux Radio theatre, one of the most popular dramatic radio shows at the time. My Favorite film I have made over the years has to be “Arise, My Love” which I made in 1940. I left Paramount studios in the year of 1945 having spent most of my career their. In 1952 to 1954 I traveled all over Europe and I slowed down and made fewer films. I did return to Broadway in 1956 in Janus. In 1958 I did a long-running play called The Marriage-Go-Round where I was nominated for a Tony Award. In 1961, I made my last film in a melodrama called Parrish. In 1963 I did another play called The Irregular Verb to Love and then in 1979 I did The Kingfisher in which I co-starred with Rex Harrison. In 1980 I was awarded the Sarah Siddons Award for Best Actress for my work in “The Kingfisher” for the season’s of 1979-1980. In 1987 I returned to due a television miniseries, called “The Two Mrs. Grenvilles and was nominated for Emmy award. However I did win a Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting role in a series. In 1989 I was awarded the pretigious Kennedy Center Honors. I was married twice in my life. My first husband was Norman Foster he was an actor and later a good director I married him in 1928. We divorced in 1935 and Four months after my divorce to Norman I married Joel Jay Pressman a Los Angeles Surgeon. And I never had any children. Politically I have always been a strong Republican and natural Conservative. Later in my years I had decided to leave my estate to a very dear friend of mine Helen O’Hagen. She was a retired director of the corporate relations at Saks Fifth Avenue, whom I had met on the movie set of my last film “Parrish”. Over the Years I have enjoyed many hobbies some of which are: Speedboating, swimming, painting, and my volunteer work with the Red Cross. I must say I have enjoyed a full life with many personal accomplishments and so many dear friends I have made over the years. My greatest reward was the love and support from around the world from my many fans. Without you I wouldn’t have had those lovely years. So “Thank You” Yours Truly,