Barbara Strand’s book “The Truth About You” sheds light on the often tightly controlled lives of female celebrities within the entertainment industry. Strand drew a poignant parallel with her friend and legendary singer Judy Garland, who tragically endured a harrowing fate at the hands of Hollywood’s ruthless executives. Garland’s life was controlled by the industry, with executives telling her she had to watch her figure.
Strand also looked back at her early career in the industry and the challenges it faced.
Garland’s mother appeared to be complicit in allowing Hollywood executives to subject her daughter to treatment such as starvation and physical constraints. Lou Mayor, a studio executive at MGM, exploited Judy into becoming a prominent figure and nicknamed her “Judy’s little Hunchback.” Strand’s book highlights the psychological toll this treatment took on Judy’s mental health and the importance of understanding the secrets that Hollywood has kept hidden for decades.
Judy Garland, a 13-year-old actress, was subjected to inappropriate physical contact and harassment by her studio head, Mr. Mayor. She eventually stopped the harassment and was underpaid for her role in The Wizard of Oz. Judy was also subjected to strict diets and subtances, which led to her being underweight and appearing out of proportion on the screen. MGM had a ruthless grip on Judy’s eating habits, hiring people to snatch food from her hands and prescribing sedatives and other substances to control her appetite. Judy was only 18 at the time, and her ex-husband revealed that she lived on benzidine and strict diets to make her look out of proportion on the screen. The studio’s manipulation and harassment of Judy were a stark reminder of the societal pressures and manipulation that can shape an individual’s life.
Judy Garland, a renowned actress, was addicted to a drug and had an extreme diet that led to her extreme weight loss and hair loss. Her addictions and emotional issues were draining her health and finances. She was found dead by her husband, Mickey Deans, in 1969. Garland’s cause of death was barbituate poisoning, which was believed to have been caused by self-overdosage.
Manelli believed that Judy Garland died from exhaustion, as she had a long career in front of people and felt like she was never good enough. Judy’s experiences may have been the reason why Barbara Garland decided to leave the stage life for close to three decades. In 2014, Dryand opened up about her 27-year absence from the stage, confessing to being the target of a cultural backlash following her interracial kiss with Egyptian actor Omar Sharif in “Funny Girl.” She blamed the show mishap on international fame pressures and concerns for her own safety. In 1994, Dryand blamed the incident on the pressures of international fame and her concerns for her own safety.
Judy Streep, a renowned actress, faced numerous challenges in her career, including sexism and abuse in Hollywood. She was criticized for her singing and singing abilities, leading to a 27-year hiatus. In her memoir, Streep also discusses a distressing incident with Sydney Chaplain, the son of Charlie Chaplain, during their performance in the Broadway production of Funny Girl. Chaplain’s cruel response to Streep’s advances contributed to her stage fright, which prevented her from performing for nearly three decades. Other troubling experiences included encounters with renowned figures like Walter Mathau and Frank Pearson Matha, who subjected Streep to humiliating taunts and demanded more close-ups. Streep’s magnetic appeal attracted notable figures like Omar Shar and Marlon Brando, who expressed their infatuation through passionate letters. Both Judy and Barbara faced similar struggles in the Hollywood industry, driven solely by profit and little concern for their personal welfare.