Mercedes de Acosta facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mercedes de Acosta
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Mercedes Hede de Acosta, 1919 or 1920
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| Born | March 1, 1892 New York City, US |
| Died | May 9, 1968 (aged 76) New York City, US |
| Occupation | Poet, novelist, playwright |
| Spouse |
Abram Poole
(m. 1920; div. 1935) |
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Mercedes de Acosta (born March 1, 1892 – died May 9, 1968) was an American writer. She was a poet, a playwright (someone who writes plays), and a novelist (someone who writes novels). Mercedes de Acosta was known for her many friendships with famous people. These included stars from Broadway and Hollywood. Her most famous friendship was with the actress Greta Garbo. In 1960, she wrote a book about her life called Here Lies the Heart.
Contents
Early Life and Family
Mercedes de Acosta was born in New York City on March 1, 1892. Her father, Ricardo de Acosta, was from Cuba. Her mother, Micaela Hernández de Alba y de Alba, was from Spain. She was said to be a descendant of the Spanish Dukes of Alba.
Mercedes had five brothers and sisters. Her sisters included Aida and Rita. Rita became a famous beauty. Mercedes went to elementary school in Manhattan. The writer Dorothy Parker was one of her classmates there.
In 1920, Mercedes de Acosta married a painter named Abram Poole. They later divorced in 1935.
A writer named John Bainbridge described Mercedes in 1955. He said she had good manners and great style. He also noted her passion for living and her interest in the arts.
Life and Friendships
Mercedes de Acosta had many friendships with famous people. These included actors and dancers from Broadway and Hollywood. In 1916, she became friends with actress Alla Nazimova. Later, she was friends with dancer Isadora Duncan.
After marrying Abram Poole in 1920, she became close friends with actress Eva Le Gallienne. Mercedes wrote two plays for Eva Le Gallienne. These plays were called Sandro Botticelli and Jehanne de Arc.
Over the next ten years, Mercedes was friends with several famous actresses and dancers. These included Greta Garbo, Marlene Dietrich, and Russian ballerina Tamara Platonovna Karsavina.
Mercedes de Acosta was also very interested in politics. She supported the Republican government during the Spanish Civil War. This war began in 1936. She also strongly believed in women's rights. In her book, she wrote that she supported women's independence. She also worked to help women get the right to vote.
She was a vegetarian and did not wear furs. This was out of respect for animals.
Friendship with Greta Garbo
Mercedes de Acosta's most famous friendship was with Greta Garbo. They met in 1931 through a mutual friend, Salka Viertel. Their friendship was sometimes difficult. Garbo often took control of their relationship. They were very close at times, then apart for long periods. Garbo would sometimes ignore Mercedes.
Despite this, they remained friends for thirty years. Garbo sent Mercedes 181 letters, cards, and telegrams. A friend named Cecil Beaton wrote about their friendship in 1958. He said Mercedes was Garbo's "very best friend" and had supported her for 30 years.
Garbo's letters were made public in 2000, ten years after her death. Only 87 of the 181 letters have been shared by Garbo's family.
Interest in Spirituality
In the early 1930s, Mercedes de Acosta became interested in Hinduism. She met an Indian mystic named Meher Baba in Hollywood. She was interested in his ideas for several years. He often gave her advice.
Later, she studied the ideas of Hindu sage Ramana Maharishi. He taught her about yoga and meditation. She hoped these practices would help her. In 1938, she met Hindu dancer Ram Gopal. They became close friends for life. Later that year, they traveled to India to meet Maharishi.
Mercedes de Acosta grew up Catholic. But she once said that if she had to choose a religion, she would be a Buddhist.
Later Life and Book
In 1960, Mercedes de Acosta was very sick. She had a brain tumor and needed money. She decided to publish her book, Here Lies the Heart. Critics liked the book, and many friends praised it.
However, the book caused some friendships to end. Garbo stopped being friends with Mercedes at this time. Eva Le Gallienne was very angry. She said Mercedes was a liar and made up stories for fame. But many of Mercedes' friendships are confirmed in her personal letters.
One friend who continued to support her was Marlene Dietrich. She kept writing to Mercedes and liked the book. A critic named Patricia White noted that Mercedes was careful about what she wrote. The book was criticized for exaggerating, but it did not openly discuss sensitive topics.
Alice B. Toklas, a long-time friend of Mercedes, wrote to a critic. She said, "Say what you will about Mercedes, she's had the most important women of the twentieth century."
Mercedes de Acosta died at age 76 in New York City. She was living in poverty at the time. She is buried at Trinity Cemetery in Washington Heights, New York City.
See also
- List of Cuban American writers
- List of Famous Cuban-Americans
