The story of Dolores Hart’s life seems to have been invented at the request of church PR specialists. A young, beautiful and critically acclaimed Hollywood star suddenly leaves her successful career and her loving fiancé, gives away all her dresses and jewelry to her friends’ children, gets into a taxi and goes to a convent to lead a modest monastic life. She made her debut alongside , and played, among others, with Marlon Brando and Warren Beatty, and the MGM and Century Fox studios wanted to sign her to a long-term contract – all this turned out to be irrelevant in the face of her appointment. This is ready-made material for a script, so it’s no wonder that in 2012 a documentary film about her was made about her, “God is a Greater Elvis”, which was also nominated for
She played with Elvis, left Hollywood for a nun
Dolores Hart (née Hicks) was literally destined for Hollywood. She was born on October 20, 1938, as the only child of an acting couple – Bert and Harriett Hicks (years later she laughed that they were indecently beautiful people). Her grandparents also worked in the film industry, so it was only a matter of time before the girl would follow in her relatives’ footsteps. When she finished her studies at a Catholic high school, encouraged by her teachers, she took part in a casting. She defeated hundreds of rivals and won the leading female role alongside Elvis in “Loving Yourself.” The film was a huge success, and Dolores made two more films before appearing alongside Presley again in The Creole King a year later.
Dolores was truly talented, which she further proved when in 1959 she became the star of the Broadway play “The Pleasure of His Company”, for which she was nominated for a Tony Award. She worked very intensively and shot subsequent films, including the very popular “Where the Boys Are”. She gained even greater critical acclaim thanks to the production “Lisa”, in which she played the role of a young woman who survived the Holocaust – she was nominated for a Golden Globe.
Dolores Hart in 1959 CBS Television – Public Domain
Meanwhile, Dolores met architect Don Robinson. Their first date lasted three hours, and by the end of that dinner he had asked her to marry him. She didn’t agree right away and asked for more time so they could just go on dates. They fell head over heels in love with each other, but the engagement took place only after five years of their relationship.
There was no doubt that Dolores Hart was one of Hollywood’s most promising stars when she joined the cast of the biopic “Francis of Assisi” in 1961. Hart played Saint Clare in the film, and the role seems prophetic today. Because she played the role of a woman who gave up everything she had in earthly life to follow in the footsteps of Saint Francis of Assisi and ultimately became the co-founder of the Poor Clares monastery.
During the production, a meeting of the actress with Pope John XXIII was organized. – When she introduced herself simply, “My name is Dolores Hart, I play Clara,” the pope replied, “Tu sei Chiara!” – “You are Clara!” – described by Janusz Omyliński on his fanpage Lekcjareligii.pl. This event is considered by many to be a breakthrough moment in the life of the actress, who then felt her calling. However, the truth is a bit more complicated – first of all, she made two more films. Secondly, this decision took much longer to form.
She was about to get married and joined a convent
Raised by her grandparents, Dolores was a very faithful and religious person. She studied at a school run by nuns, and when she was working in Hollywood, she went to mass every morning at six. – I prayed for every role I got – she said years later in front of the camera of the crew filming the documentary “God is a Bigger Elvis”, available on Max.
Hart first went to the convent at Regina Laudis Abbey in Bethlehem, Connecticut, where she has been a nun for 60 years, in 1959. A friend recommended the place and said it would be perfect to unwind for a few days after nine months of performing in “The Pleasure of His Company” on Broadway. – I arrived and I was delighted. I found peace. I could be myself, Hart recalls in the documentary.
She confessed that she had various concerns about her career at that time, which she talked about with the Mother Superior: that it was bad that, as a Catholic, she acted in films, because being around boys could make her aroused, which put her at risk of having sexual contacts. . In response she heard: Why not, are you a girl? Innocence doesn’t mean you don’t appreciate what God has created. It means you have to use it in the right way, advised the nun.
– I left the monastery feeling inner peace and decided to return there one day – says Dolores, who also at that stage asked the sisters if it was possible that she also had a vocation and should join the convent. She was advised to continue her career, which she did with some relief. Years passed and she became engaged to a successful architect, Don Robinson. “I loved him,” she emphasized in a conversation with documentarians. – It happened that we were both Catholics. I felt that we were made for each other – Don also told the cameras of the creators of the film “God is a bigger Elvis”.
Her ex-fiance visited her there for the rest of her life
Three weeks after Dolores finally said “yes” to Don, Edith Head – an American costume designer and eight-time winner of the Academy Award for Best Costume Design – began sewing a wedding dress for her. They sent out invitations, the bride chose her bridesmaids, they started planning the wedding, and Don started building the house. This love, however, was not what Dolores was destined for. – I was constantly thinking about returning. Monastic life gave me the opportunity to achieve full unity with God and experience His eternal love – she described the doubts that accompanied her then.
Not long before the wedding, Don noticed that his fiancée had been absent-minded for some time and finally asked her what was wrong. Then it turned out that she had received a letter from Regina Laudis, who said that if she was still interested in joining the convent, now was the time to do it. – I wanted to join a convent and marry Don at the same time – says Dolores.
Still from the film photo ‘God is a bigger Elvis’, dir. Rebecca Cammisa, prod. HBO Documentary Films (2012)
She joined the order in June 1963 and became one of only 36 sisters observing the strict Benedictine rule. Regina Laudis Abbey in Bethlehem, Connecticut is a closed monastery. In addition, the sisters also run a farm there. It is the only order of its kind in the USA. Dolores was his prioress for many years. – I didn’t feel like I was losing Hollywood. I didn’t feel like I was missing anything. The Order was a gift from God that entered my life in a completely unexpected way. God became a bigger Elvis – she told the documentary cameras.
Don never married: – For 52 years I have not come to terms with Dolores’ departure (…) I finally understood why she joined the convent: I know that she was not called to be a wife and mother. (…) The abbey gave her a sense of security. She wanted to be married to God (…) I dated many women after our breakup, but I never loved any of them as much as Dolores. She became a nun, but I still love her. I have been coming to the abbey for 47 years. “I guess that means something,” Don said movingly. Their relationship was truly unique – the creators of the documentary “God is a Greater Elvis” managed to capture them walking around the abbey together hand in hand, saying goodbye to each other with a tender kiss and tears of worry in Dolores’ eyes. Don visited his beloved until the end of his life – he died in 2011.
In 2012, Dolores Hart appeared at the Oscars for the first time since 1959, together with the creators of the documentary “God is a Greater Elvis”. She also became a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which means she is the only nun who votes for Oscar films. On October 20, 2023, she turned 85, of which she spent 60 in the convent. – People come to talk to us about any form of suffering that can touch the human heart. My role is to help them understand that there is always hope to be found. And if you find it, you can also find faith – he talks about his mission.
Source: Gazeta
Bruce is a talented author and journalist with a passion for entertainment . He currently works as a writer at the 247 News Agency, where he has established himself as a respected voice in the industry.
