Partner Lina Poletti

Queer Places:
Casa Duse, Via Canova, 31011 Asolo TV, Italia
William Pitt Union (formerly Hotel Schenley), 3959 Fifth Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, Stati Uniti
Asolo Cemetery, 31011 Asolo TV, Italia

Eleonora Duse (3 October 1858 – 21 April 1924) was the first woman Cover of Time magazine in 1921.

She was an Italian actress, often known simply as Duse. She is regarded as one of the greatest actresses of all time, noted for her total assumption of the roles she portrayed. Duse was the subject of the 1947 biographical film Eleonora Duse. She has been romantically linked to Mercedes de Acosta, Isadora Duncan, Lina Poletti.

In 1896, Duse completed a triumphant tour of the United States; in Washington President Grover Cleveland and his wife attended every performance. Mrs. Cleveland shocked Washington society by giving in Duse's honor the first-ever White House tea held for an actress. In 1909 Duse retired from acting, and near to that same time she met and became involved in an affair with Italian feminist Lina Poletti, a former lover of writer Sibilla Aleramo. The two lived together in Florence, Italy for two years before ending the relationship.

Duse's relationship with the dancer Isadora Duncan was also rumored to be sexual. Duse spent several weeks with her at Viareggio, the seaside resort, in 1913, shortly after the dancer's two children drowned in a tragic accident.

She was also known for mentoring many young actresses in her company, most notably Emma Gramatica; and she shared a lasting and intimate friendship with the singer Yvette Guilbert. She also savored a long friendship with the couturier Jean Philippe Worth, who was utterly devoted to her.


by Arnold Genthe


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