In Hollywood’s Golden Age, Judy Garland was one of the most prominent and tragic movie stars. She was a much-loved character that charmed the audience with her warmth, spirit, and rich, vibrant voice.
Garland ‘s life was blighted by a tragic childhood that greatly impacted the challenges she would endure throughout her life, despite her undeniable success and the admiration of millions of fans worldwide.
Judy Garland Was Forced to Starve Herself for the Screen
Judy Garland will always be remembered for her role as the lovely, chubby-faced Dorothy Gale in the 1939 movie The Wizard of Oz. Millions of people have kept her incredible performance in their hearts and minds for countless generations, making the Wizard of Oz a household classic. However, the happy outer appearance conceals an unexpected juxtaposition: a devastating story of abuse that would change Garland’s life.
Garland was only 13 when Louis B. Mayer of Metro Goldwyn Mayer (MGM) signed her after she impressed him in a personal audition. Her debut feature film was a musical comedy about college football titled Pigskin Parade.
Her portrayal in the movie, however, did not impress MGM’s producers, who told her she looked like a “fat little pig with pigtails.”
Soon after, they put her on a strict diet and closely monitored her intake to the point where they would take away her food as she was ready to start eating.
Garland had fantasies about being able to eat chocolate sundaes because of how hungry she always was.
The immense pressure Judy Garland experienced from MGM executives, who were obsessed with her image and wanted to control every facet of her life, was one of the most significant factors contributing to her miserable childhood.
The Way Judy Garland Was Treated Was Shocking
One of the biggest film studios in the world, MGM, kept an eye on Garland’s diet because they were worried about her weight. She would frequently have her food taken away, which would leave her constantly hungry. She would remain insecure about her body image for the rest of her life. She developed the habits of bingeing and starving when still a child.
Charles Waters, a director who worked with Garland, referred to Garland as “the ugly duckling” of the industry, according to The Independent. He claimed the way the studio treated her “had a damaging effect” on Garland. “I think it lasted forever really,” he said.
To speed her up or slow her down, they would give her a variety of drugs, and when she was only 16 years old, they even subjected her to obscene sexual abuse.
Garland occasionally found herself working 18-hour days, six days a week, as the studio would frequently drive its stars to the breaking point. She was given sleeping pills to calm her down and amphetamines to keep her energized.
Garland led a chaotic and unpleasant life as a result of being forced into such bad behaviors at such a young age. Eventually, the star overdosed on drugs and passed away at the age of 47. Her legacy endures as a testament to her incredible talent and the resilience she displayed despite the challenges she faced.
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Source: The Telegraph
