Gloria Swanson: Hollywood’s First Glamour Queen And So Much More

Makenna Lemke 17 May 2025

Let me tell you a story about a woman who redefined what it meant to be a Hollywood legend. Gloria Swanson, the dazzling diva who captivated audiences for decades, made a bold comeback after nearly two decades away from the silver screen. In 1975, she agreed to play a Hollywood icon in the hit film Airport 1975. This role, which would turn out to be her last, was special to her. Gloria insisted on writing her own dialogue, ensuring the character reflected her standards. “I wanted a movie I could take my grandchildren to see,” she said. “Something exciting and contemporary, without senseless violence.”

Gloria Swanson wasn’t just a star; she was a grandmother who cherished her family as much as she did her career. According to Stephen Michael Shearer, author of Gloria Swanson: The Ultimate Star, she was a force of nature. “She was ambitious, self-assured, and unforgettable,” he says. “Even standing at just 4-foot-11-inches tall, she commanded every room she entered.”

Gloria's journey began as an only child in a modest household. Her parents instilled in her a belief that she could achieve anything she set her mind to. It was this confidence that led a teenage Gloria, inspired by a movie star crush, to talk her way onto her very first film set. Her determination paid off, and by the early 1920s, she was among Hollywood’s most celebrated silent-movie stars.

Director Cecil B. DeMille played a pivotal role in Gloria's rise to fame. “He discovered her, dressed her up, and educated her,” says Shearer. Despite her petite stature, Gloria carried herself with elegance, wearing silk brocade, feathers, furs, and Art Deco jewelry with unmatched flair. She wasn’t just a glamorous figure; she was a driven actress who hungered for self-improvement. “She became Hollywood’s first glamour queen and developed into a fine actress,” adds Shearer.

Between 1918 and 1929, Gloria earned a staggering $8 million. But her extravagant lifestyle and lavish spending habits, including the creation of her own production company, nearly left her bankrupt. “She had a very romantic view of life,” explains Shearer. When her film career began to decline in the 1930s, Gloria moved to New York. There, she explored theater, took up painting and sculpting, and became an activist, proving her versatility and resilience.

Gloria wasn’t just a star on screen; she was also a humanitarian off-screen. Aware of the struggles faced by Jewish scientists in Europe during the rise of fascism, she founded Multiprises, a patent licensing company. Using her own money, she helped at-risk scientists relocate to America. “To her immense credit, she saved the lives of some of these scientists,” says Shearer.

Actress Gloria Swanson in Music in the Air — John Springer Collection/CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images

The Iconic Role of Norma Desmond

It’s said that Greta Garbo turned down the role of Norma Desmond in the 1950 classic Sunset Boulevard, giving Gloria the chance to make a stunning comeback and earn her third Academy Award nomination. At first, Gloria had doubts. “Maybe I shouldn’t have done it,” she admitted, concerned that a new generation might confuse her with the delusional Norma Desmond. But Shearer clarifies, “She didn’t live in the past, yet she couldn’t understand why a woman over 50 wasn’t given romantic leads.” Regardless, her performance in Sunset Boulevard remains her greatest legacy, standing the test of time.

A Complicated Personal Life

Gloria’s personal life was as complex as her career. She endured five divorces before marrying writer and activist William Duffy, who was 15 years her junior, in 1976. While her relationships with her children were distant, she made it a point to be present in the lives of her seven grandchildren. “She loved her grandchildren,” says Shearer. “Not one grandchild has anything but good things to say about Gloria.”