"The first image that pops into your head when you think of Josephine Baker is probably of the Jazz Age performer dancing in a barely there skirt made of faux bananas-it is, after all, one of the most enduring images of the Roaring '20s. But there is so much more to Baker's life story that it's hard to think of anyone more overdue for the proper biopic treatment."
"The iconic performer, who was born into poverty in St. Louis in 1906, got her professional start as a teenager in the vaudeville circuit and went on to pack in enough experiences to fill several lifetimes before her death in 1975. To name just a few highlights: She found immense fame in France, spied for the Resistance, bought a castle, adopted 12 children, spoke at the March on Washington, and was a muse for Alexander Calder, Le Corbusier, Paul Colin, Matisse, and Adolf Loos."
Josephine Baker was born into poverty in St. Louis in 1906 and began her professional career as a teenager on the vaudeville circuit. She achieved immense fame in France and accumulated a wide range of experiences over her life, including spying for the French Resistance, purchasing and restoring a castle, and adopting twelve children into a multicultural family. She spoke at the March on Washington and served as a muse to notable artists and designers. She embraced domestic life, surrounding herself with gardens, pets, and children, and invested time and money to transform a dilapidated estate into a lavish home and tourist destination.
Read at Architectural Digest
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