Veronica Lake, the Hollywood icon renowned for her trademark blonde hair, rose to fame overnight and became a style icon in the early 1940s.
With her distinctive peek-a-boo hairstyle, imitated by countless women, she starred in twenty-six films. However, two decades later, the actress found herself alone, vulnerable, and battling alcoholism, ultimately working as a hotel bar waitress.
Much like other Hollywood stars, Veronica Lake had to reinvent herself from humble beginnings. Born Constance Frances Marie Ockelman in November 1922 in Brooklyn, New York, she faced a traumatic event at twelve when her father died in an oil tanker explosion. After her mother remarried, the family moved to Florida, where Veronica, driven by her mother's aspirations, participated in beauty competitions. A promise from a juror led them to Hollywood.
Yet, emotional troubles began plaguing Lake, and her mother's relentless pursuit of stardom, despite Veronica's lack of interest, led to a diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia. Despite projecting a tough-girl image, she was, in reality, a vulnerable and fragile individual.
In 1938, the family settled in Beverly Hills, and Veronica attended the Bliss-Hayden School of Acting as a form of treatment for her mental health. Soon, she showcased her acting talent and secured her first role in the 1939 film "Sorority House" by RKO Pictures.
Renamed by Hollywood, Lake received supporting roles, portraying ingénue college girls. She also met John Detlie, an MGM producer, whom she married in 1941. In the early forties, her distinctive hairstyle and roles made her a sex symbol, causing a stir nationwide.
While her professional career soared with films like "The Raven" (1942), her personal life crumbled. Her husband's military deployment led to her dating other men, resulting in an unplanned pregnancy. Hollywood labeled her 'the slut,' and, under pressure, she had an abortion, concealed as a fall during a radio program.
Amidst her fame, Lake sought solace in heavy drinking to cope with mental health issues. She married Hungarian filmmaker André De Toth in 1944, facing emotional instability and severe depression due to pressure to bear children quickly.
Despite personal struggles, Lake continued her film career, starring in productions like the noir film "The Blue Dahlia" (1946) and the drama "Saigon" (1948), alongside Alan Ladd, generating substantial income.
