Nelly Savage, also known as Nellie Savage, was born on March 5, 1893, in the bustling city of New York. Her mother, Marie Savage, was a renowned opera singer, and Nelly's early life was likely filled with the sounds of music and dance.
As a young woman, Nelly's passion for dance led her to join the Fokine's ballet and the Covent Garden opera in London. Her talent and dedication earned her a spot on the stage, where she would later become known for having the longest hair on the stage. Her dark locks, measuring an impressive 36 3/4 inches long, were a striking feature that set her apart from her peers.
Nelly made her Broadway debut in the musical Mecca in 1920 and quickly became a fixture in the Ziegfeld Follies. Her exotic looks and captivating stage presence earned her the nickname "The Girl With The Sweet Wickedness."
In addition to her work on stage, Nelly also ventured into film, making her debut in the 1923 movie The Mad Dancer. She landed a small role in the film and went on to work with notable directors such as D.W. Griffith, who cast her in his movies Isn't Life Wonderful and The Sorrows Of Satan.
In an interview, Nelly shared her thoughts on the challenges of transitioning from the stage to film, stating, "Being a Follies girl doesn't really help you much in Pictures. A Follies girl unless she's happens to be just lucky has to go through the mill like any other extra girl."
Nelly's film career eventually stalled, and she decided to retire from show business by 1930. Her final film was the drama The Hole In The Wall, starring Claudette Colbert.
In her later years, Nelly lived in Florida, where she spent her time away from the spotlight. She passed away in December 1969 at the age of seventy-six, leaving behind a legacy as a talented performer who captivated audiences on both stage and screen.
