Eleonora Duse

Eleonora Duse was an Italian actress, often known simply as Duse. She is regarded as one of the greatest actors of all time, noted for her total assumption of the roles she portrayed. Duse was the subject of the 1947 biographical film Eleonora Duse.

Duse was born in Vigevano, Lombardy, and began acting as a child. Both her father and her grandfather were actors, and she joined the troupe at age four. Due to poverty, she initially worked continually, traveling from city to city with whichever troupe her family was currently engaged. She came to fame in Italian versions of roles made famous by Sarah Bernhardt. She gained her first major success in Europe, then toured South America, Russia and the United States beginning the tours as a virtual unknown but leaving in her wake a general recognition of her genius. While she made her career and fame performing in the theatrical warhorses of her day, she is today remembered more for her association with the plays of Gabriele dAnnunzio and Henrik Ibsen. In regard to her general character, it is important to note that reading was a lifelong passion.

Source: Wikipedia