Linda Darnell, one of five children born to a postal clerk, embarked on a remarkable journey at a tender age. By the time she was 11, she was already modeling clothes, cleverly disguising her true age by claiming to be 16. As she entered her teenage years, she began to take the stage with local theater groups, showcasing her burgeoning talent at just 13 years old.
Her mother played a significant role in nurturing her daughter's aspirations, encouraging her to audition when Hollywood talent scouts arrived in Dallas. This opportunity led Linda to California, where the studio discovered her true age and promptly sent her back home, instructing her to return when she was 15.
Linda's fourth film, Star Dust (1940),was a poignant reflection of her real-life experience, capturing the essence of her early struggles in the industry. Interestingly, it was this very film that Linda watched on the night of April 9, 1965, at the home of her former secretary, located in the Chicago suburb of Glenview, Illinois.
Tragedy struck in the early hours of the next morning, as the house caught fire. Linda Darnell passed away the following afternoon at Cook County Hospital. Her iconic character in Forever Amber (1947) defied the odds, surviving the devastating London fire, the plague, and the perils of being the mistress of England's King Charles II.
