Poor dear had an eating disorder (Bulimia) which wrecked her neck, hence the almost ever-present collars in her costuming. She was born and raised just blocks from my house! Sad life, but she brightened several films with her dancing.
Not to try to debunk Snopes (who are in the business of debunking myths), but I really doubt that Vera-Ellen had lunch with these friends and relatives and then puked right in their presence directly after, right? Yes, she ate. Then she purged. Bulimia was (and is) a very secret, private disease that people (most often ladies) go to great lengths to hide from others out of shame, humiliation, etc... so eyewitness accounts of her eating tell us nothing. Her neck may not have been "ravaged," but she also had youth on her side for the longest time. That footage is hazy and studio portraits are airbrushed always. And even Snopes can't say definitively that she didn't have an eating disorder. (And why they always seem to say anorexia was her issue I can't possibly guess!) Eeek! I did just go on and on... sorry about that.
And she did her own stunts, too! Remarkable woman. Jx
ReplyDeletePoor dear had an eating disorder (Bulimia) which wrecked her neck, hence the almost ever-present collars in her costuming. She was born and raised just blocks from my house! Sad life, but she brightened several films with her dancing.
ReplyDeleteOr not, as the case may be. Jx
DeleteNot to try to debunk Snopes (who are in the business of debunking myths), but I really doubt that Vera-Ellen had lunch with these friends and relatives and then puked right in their presence directly after, right? Yes, she ate. Then she purged. Bulimia was (and is) a very secret, private disease that people (most often ladies) go to great lengths to hide from others out of shame, humiliation, etc... so eyewitness accounts of her eating tell us nothing. Her neck may not have been "ravaged," but she also had youth on her side for the longest time. That footage is hazy and studio portraits are airbrushed always. And even Snopes can't say definitively that she didn't have an eating disorder. (And why they always seem to say anorexia was her issue I can't possibly guess!) Eeek! I did just go on and on... sorry about that.
DeleteI don't know
ReplyDeleteShe doesn't look Protestant to me