Claudette Colbert was an Oscar winning star whose career spanned six decades
She was born Emilie Claudette Chauchoin September 13, 1903 in Saint Mande, France. Her family moved to New York City in 1906. After high school she studied fashion design at the Art Students League of New York. Her friend, writer Anne Morrison, offered her a small role in a play in 1923. Then she decided to quit school to pursue an acting career. Claudette appeared on Broadway in numerous shows including The Barker, Fast Life, and Tin Pan Alley. She made her film debut in the 1927 silent drama For The Love Of Mike. In 1928 she married actor Norman Foster. The couple never lived together. When she became pregnant she had an abortion because she was worried a child would hurt her career. Her big break came when she was offered a contract at Paramount. Claudette was given featured roles in The Hole In The Wall and The Smiling Lieutenant. Cecil B. DeMille cast her in his 1932 epic The Sign Of The Cross. It was one of the years biggest box-office hits. She won the Best Actress Oscar for her performance in the 1934 screwball comedy It Happened One Night. Her success continued with the hit films Cleopatra, She Married Her Boss, and Imitation Of Life. Following a long separation she officially divorced Norman in 1935. Claudette was bisexual and enjoyed a passionate romance with Marlene Dietrich. On December 24, 1935 she married Joel Pressman, a doctor. By this time she had become one of Hollywood's highest paid actresses and was earning $150,000 a movie.
