Disgraced Facts About Ann Woodward, The Lost Swan Of New York
All of Truman Capote’s “swans” were glamorous and damaged, but no one more so than the beautiful, tragic Ann Woodward.
1. She Went From Glamour To Grime
Ann Woodward was supposed to get a fairy tale ending. Going from working in seedy clubs to marrying America’s most eligible bachelor and swanning about with Truman Capote, the beginning of her story was pure Cinderella fantasy. But one sudden—and mysterious—twist sent the socialite down a dark path. One that ended in blood, betrayal, and her own ghastly death.
Ann Woodward’s story reveals just what lies beneath those painted smiles of New York high society.
2. She Wanted To Be Someone
From the beginning, all Ann Woodward wanted to be was important. Although born Evangeline Crowell in 1915 in small-town Kansas, by the time she was 23 she’d moved to New York City, changed her name to “Ann Eden,”
and was trading in her already gorgeous looks to work as a model with the influential John Robert Powers agency.
It could have been the beginning of an age-old Hollywood success story. It almost was.
3. She Was Famously Beautiful
By the late 1930s, Ann had become a sought-after radio actress, and even had a role in Noel Coward’sSet to Music. With her glossy hair, big eyes, and plump lips, her beauty was enough for listeners to give her the somewhat paradoxical title of “The Most Beautiful Girl In Radio”. But she was about to discover that there would always be a grim side to her glittering dreams.
4. She Couldn’t Quite Make It
Although Ann saw some success in her early years in New York, it was also a grind to keep any of that success going. In her mid-20s, she was mostly working as a showgirl for FeFe’s Monte Carlo, a nightclub that serviced the rich and powerful men of the city. Then again, Ann knew just what to do with rich and powerful men, as she’d soon prove.
