Bow was born in Brooklyn, New York in either 1905 or 1906, and was working as an actress by her mid-teens. She won the Fame and Fortune contest in 1921 and began making motion pictures the following year. She became well known for her expressiveness and ability to project sexuality in silent film.
Bow was dubbed "The IT Girl"—"It" being a euphemism for sex-appeal. This image was enhanced by various off-screen love affairs publicized by the tabloid press.
After movies such as Wings (1927), Bow's career continued with some success into the early sound film era, until she retired in 1933 to raise her children with her husband, cowboy actor Rex Bell[?].
Clara Bow died on September 26, 1965.
External link
- Photographs of Clara Bow (http://silentladies.com/PBow.html)