Duse

Franz Geritz

A portrait of Eleonora Giulia Amalia Duse (1858-1924), the Italian actress who was often known simple as Duse. Her father and grandfather were actors and she joined the troupe at age four. She recreated many of Sarah Bernhardt's roles and was considered by many to be the greatest actress of her time. She toured the U.S. in 1896 and First Lady Frances Cleveland invited her to tea at the White House. Duse retired from acting in 1909 but returned to the stage in 1921 for a series of performances in Europe and the U.S. In 1923, Duse was the first woman to grace the cover of Time magazine and she died the following year in Pittsburg at the Hotel Schenley while still on tour.