Rita Hayworth

The Love Goddess Who Reigned Over Hollywood

Rita Hayworth, known as "The Love Goddess," was one of the most luminous and complex stars of Hollywood's Golden Age. With her cascading red hair, mesmerizing screen presence, and vulnerability beneath her glamour, Hayworth became a symbol of desire for a generation. Yet behind the sultry image was a deeply private woman who struggled for personal happiness even as she conquered the silver screen. Her life, like her most iconic performances, was rich with passion, resilience, and poignancy.

Early Life: From Margarita to Rita

Rita Hayworth was born Margarita Carmen Cansino on October 17, 1918, in Brooklyn, New York. Her father, Eduardo Cansino, was a Spanish-born dancer, and her mother, Volga Haworth, was of Irish-English descent and had once been a Ziegfeld Follies showgirl. Dance was in Rita’s blood, and from a young age, she trained rigorously under her father’s demanding instruction.

The family moved to Hollywood in the 1920s, and Margarita began performing professionally in nightclubs as part of the "Dancing Cansinos," often appearing much older than her years. She made her film debut in small roles as a dancer in the early 1930s, working under her birth name.

However, her early roles often typecast her as an "exotic" or ethnic character, which limited her opportunities in a racially rigid Hollywood. Recognizing the need for transformation, she underwent a dramatic makeover orchestrated by studio executives: her hairline was painfully raised through electrolysis, her hair was dyed a vibrant red, and she adopted the more Anglo-sounding name Rita Hayworth, a variation on her mother's maiden name.

The Rise to Stardom

Rita's new image, combined with her undeniable beauty and charisma, quickly caught the attention of Columbia Pictures head Harry Cohn. Under contract with Columbia, she began receiving more substantial roles in films such as:

Only Angels Have Wings (1939) opposite Cary Grant

The Strawberry Blonde (1941) with James Cagney

Blood and Sand (1941) with Tyrone Power

Her breakthrough came in 1941 with You'll Never Get Rich, the first of two films she made with dancing legend Fred Astaire. Astaire later called her "his favourite dance partner," praising her natural grace and rhythm.

Rita's blend of sultriness and sweetness was unique in a town filled with glamorous stars, and by the early 1940s, she was one of the biggest names in Hollywood.

Gilda (1946): The Ultimate Icon

In 1946, Rita Hayworth starred in what would become her most famous role: Gilda, directed by Charles Vidor. Playing the titular character, Rita electrified audiences with her sensual performance, most famously in the scene where she slowly removes her elbow-length gloves while singing "Put the Blame on Mame."

Gilda cemented her status as the ultimate femme fatale, but also somewhat typecast her as the unattainable, smouldering siren. Ironically, Hayworth herself remarked, "Men fell in love with Gilda, but they woke up with me," highlighting the profound gap between her screen image and her real self.

The "Love Goddess" image brought her worldwide fame — her photograph was famously plastered on the atom bomb tested at Bikini Atoll — but it also trapped her within an identity she struggled to reconcile.

Personal Life: Love and Turmoil

Despite her beauty and success, Rita Hayworth's personal life was often marred by heartbreak. She married five times:

Edward Judson (1937–1942): Her first husband, who helped engineer her early career but was also controlling and exploitative.

Orson Welles (1943–1947): The brilliant actor-director. Their marriage produced one daughter, Rebecca, but ultimately faltered under the pressures of fame and divergent careers.

Prince Aly Khan (1949–1953): In a real-life fairy tale, Rita married the dashing son of the Aga Khan, becoming a princess. The marriage captivated the world’s imagination but ended amid personal differences and public scrutiny.

Dick Haymes (1953–1955): An actor and singer struggling with legal and financial problems, whose troubles further strained Rita.

James Hill (1958–1961): A producer who, despite initial hopes, proved another ill-fated match.

Throughout her life, Hayworth often sought love and stability but seemed to encounter betrayal and disillusionment at every turn. Her personal sadness and quest for real connection stood in poignant contrast to her vivacious public persona.

Later Career and Decline

In the 1950s, as Hollywood’s tastes changed, Rita Hayworth’s stardom dimmed somewhat, though she continued to deliver strong performances in films like:

Miss Sadie Thompson (1953)

Pal Joey (1957), alongside Frank Sinatra and Kim Novak

Separate Tables (1958)

She made a brief comeback with the touching film The Story on Page One (1959) but struggled with an increasing dependence on alcohol, a factor often mistakenly attributed to her fading career.

In truth, Rita was battling the early symptoms of Alzheimer's disease — a condition poorly understood at the time — which contributed to her erratic behaviour and difficulty memorizing lines during her later performances.

Illness and Final Years

In the 1970s, Rita Hayworth's mental and physical health deteriorated visibly. She was eventually diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease — one of the first public figures to be associated with the illness, helping to bring greater awareness to the disease.

Her daughter, Princess Yasmin Aga Khan, became her devoted caregiver and later a passionate advocate for Alzheimer’s research.

Rita Hayworth passed away on May 14, 1987, at the age of 68. Her funeral, attended by luminaries from across the entertainment world, was a sombre reminder of the loss of one of Hollywood’s brightest stars.

Legacy: The Eternal Goddess

Rita Hayworth remains an enduring symbol of Hollywood glamour and complexity. Her legacy is multifaceted:

Cultural Icon: Her image continues to be celebrated in art, fashion, and film studies.

Dance Pioneer: Her collaborations with Fred Astaire showcased her incredible dancing talents, rivalling any musical star of the era.

Humanitarian Impact: Her later struggles brought critical attention to Alzheimer's disease.

Empowered Figure: Despite personal battles, Rita maintained remarkable resilience, always returning to her craft with dignity and grace.

Her career and personal story illustrate the paradox of stardom: the simultaneous adoration and alienation that come with fame. Yet through it all, Rita Hayworth's spirit shines as brilliantly today as it did on the silver screen.

As Fred Astaire once said of her:

"She was the most beautiful woman I ever danced with."

And for millions around the world, she remains — not just a Love Goddess, but a deeply human, unforgettable star.