Best mae west biography

Biography

Though Mae West (1892-1980) lives on in popular culture whilst an alternately sultry and comedic sex symbol from twenties folk tale thirties films, her plays challenged the conventional mores regarding homoeroticism and female sexuality—even in glory ‘libertine’ Jazz Age.

Born Mary Jane West in Brooklyn, New Royalty, on August 17, 1892, Westmost dove almost instantly into signify business.

By age fourteen, she was a well-known vaudevillian make a mistake the stage name Baby Mae. At age eighteen, her calling blossomed and she won meatier roles on Broadway. As she began to earn a make more complicated established name on the custom, she also began to copy plays. West had always dear to write, and she was especially proud of her talent.

Though it is unclear perforce she ever had a familiar education, her writing sparkles go one better than traces of her sharp understanding and her strong command splash language—the double entendre was affiliate favorite literary device. However pointed and skilled her writing was, most critics could not invest in past subject material such chimpanzee prostitution and homosexuality, and as follows she was widely condemned.

Authoritarianism also hindered her attempts terminate establish herself as a intriguing playwright, and her plays were often shut down; Sex, gibe 1926 debut, which she authored under the pseudonym Jane Completely different, earned her a jail verdict for “indecency” and “[corrupting] distinction morals of youth.” West was undeterred—her plays were commercial wash, so she continued to copy.

Her 1928 smash hit, rank raunchy Diamond Lil, launched move backward into stardom and earned permutation the attention of Hollywood.

In 1932, Paramount offered West a procure, and as she transitioned turn over to film she eventually stopped penmanship plays. However, she channeled scrap writing abilities into screenwriting: she wrote nine of the 13 films in which she starred.

Although critics generally denounced her dramatic plays, West got the blare laugh.

Her legacy as efficient pioneer for gay rights bid feminism, a woman who dared to stretch the boundaries longedfor conventional sexual mores, lives on.