Before she was Judy Garland, the greatest actress, and singer, she was Frances Ethel Gumm, born on June 10, 1922, in Grand Rapids, Minnesota. The daughter of vaudeville professionals, she started her stage career as a child.
At the age of 16, Judy Garland starred in 1939 movie, The Wizard of Oz. It brought Garland her first and only Academy Award, a special award with a miniature statuette for “outstanding performance by a screen juvenile. Behind the innocent image of Dorothy hid Judy’s extremely hard work, long hours and constant weight watch. Studio bosses demanded the actress to remain thin and energetic enough to cope with arduous days of filming.
“They had us (Judy referred to actor Mickey Rooney and herself) working days and nights on end. They’d give us pills to keep us on our feet long after we were exhausted. Then they’d take us to the studio hospital and knock us out with sleeping pills – Mickey sprawled out on one bed and me on another,” Garland told biographer Paul Donnelley. “Then after four hours they’d wake us up and give us the pep pills again so we could work 72 hours in a row. Half of the time we were hanging from the ceiling but it was a way of life for us.”
Garland was introduced to the use of substances such as stimulants to keep performers working, and sleeping pills to get enough sleep. By the time the actress finished filming The Wizard of Oz, she was addicted to barbiturates and amphetamines.
For the remainder of her life, Judy Garland fought an issue of substance abuse, went through several suicide attempts and died of an accidental overdose in 1969 at age 47.
She left behind her three children (Liza Minnelli and Lorna and Joey Luft).
Renée Zellweger in her latest Oscar-winning role as Judy Garland did a remarkable job. She captivates audiences with Judy’s booze and barbiturate-filled portrayal of Judy Garland. She captures Judy at her lowest physical form, dancing and performing.
The film is ultimately about those ups and downs and finding that true entertainer, the true star again and again even as Judy’s life teeters.
