"Fate decided my life," prophesied Sharon Tate, encapsulating the essence of a life that was both extraordinary and tragically cut short.
In the vibrant landscape of the 1960s, she emerged as the quintessential it-girl—a stunning blend of beauty and talent poised for stardom. However, fate, as Tate remarked, had different plans.
Debra Tate, Sharon's sister, lamented that the world primarily remembers Sharon through the lens of her tragic end rather than appreciating the person she was.
In "Sharon Tate: Recollection," Debra emphasized Sharon's remarkable life—a tale eclipsed by the shadows of a cruel fate. Sharon Tate was not just an icon; she epitomized the spirit of the 1960s, a natural beauty tailor-made for an era defined by newfound freedom and blossoming fashion.
The vivid memory of Sharon's wedding on January 20, 1968, remains etched in history. Located in Chelsea, the heart of London's hippie culture, the ceremony drew crowds of spectators, journalists, and photographers. Dressed in a white mini dress adorned with blue ribbons, flowers woven into her flowing hair, Sharon exuded a unique radiance. As Roman Polański described in "Roman by Polański," the couple looked "grotesque" in the best possible way, capturing the essence of the posh hippie era.
Sharon's marriage to Roman Polański, the hottest movie couple of the time, was a spectacle that captivated onlookers. The ceremony unfolded against the backdrop of an era marked by the Summer of Love in 1967. Little did the guests, including Joan Collins, Warren Beatty, and Michael Caine, anticipate that this period of love and liberation would be abruptly extinguished.
Sharon Tate, often hailed as one of the most beautiful women in the world, embodied the spirit of the swinging 60s. A symbol of sexual liberation, she was one of the first to flaunt a mini skirt, leaving an indelible mark on the era. Yet, beneath the glamorous exterior, Sharon was a shy dreamer aspiring to a film career when fate intervened.
At 19, film and television producer Martin Ransohoff declared, "This girl is going to be a star!" Sharon became a project—meticulously crafted and molded into Ransohoff's vision. Classes in acting, dancing, singing, and even consultations with doctors to aid weight loss were part of the transformation. However, Sharon's polished public persona clashed with her private self—Miss Anonymous—a dichotomy that left her conflicted.
Sharon Tate, though compliant in her quest for stardom, harbored a rebellious spirit. The clash between the perfectly polished public image and her authentic self became evident. Patti, her younger sister, delineated two versions of Sharon—the polished star and the sister in jeans and a T-shirt, biting her nails when nervous. As fate unfurled its tragic course, Sharon Tate, beyond the glitz and glamour, remains a symbol of an era extinguished too soon, a life shaped by both choice and circumstance.
