Susan Hayward, born Edythe Marrenner, was an accomplished American actress who had a successful career in Hollywood during the 1940s, ’50s, and ’60s. Incorporating her inspiring story and performances into your curriculum will not only expose students to film history but also teach them valuable life lessons. This article will guide you on how to teach students about Susan Hayward and the impact she made in the world of cinema.
Early Life and Struggles
Start by discussing Susan Hayward’s early life, born in Brooklyn, New York on June 30, 1917. She faced several personal challenges during her childhood. Susan grew up in a financially unstable family, and she suffered from a speech impediment – stuttering. However, she overcame it by taking up acting classes. Use these obstacles to emphasize the theme of resilience, highlighting how one can triumph over adversity with determination.
Acting Career
Introduce your students to some of Susan Hayward’s iconic roles that earned her critical acclaim. Discuss films such as “Smash Up: The Story of a Woman” (1947), “My Foolish Heart” (1949), “With a Song in My Heart” (1952), “I’ll Cry Tomorrow” (1955), and “I Want to Live!” (1958). These movies showcase her versatility as an actress and are excellent examples of her powerful performances.
In particular, highlight her role as Barbara Graham in “I Want to Live!”, which led to her winning the Academy Award for Best Actress. Analyze the character’s unique challenges and allow your students to reflect on how Susan portrayed such complex roles with finesse.
Discuss Susan’s career trajectory as she transitioned from playing small parts to starring roles, illustrating how hard work eventually yields success.
Personal Life and Legacy
Examine Susan Hayward’s personal life, which included tumultuous marriages, motherhood, and battles with alcoholism and depression. Discussing these aspects of her life humanizes the actress and serves as a reminder to students that even successful individuals face challenges.
Toward the end of her career, Susan was diagnosed with brain cancer, which eventually caused her death in 1975. Reflect on how she remained active and continued working in the industry despite her illness.
Conclusion
Teaching students about Susan Hayward is an opportunity to acquaint them with an iconic Hollywood figure whose life illustrates determination, resilience, and talent. By exploring her personal struggles and successes, students can better understand the importance of perseverance and developing their skills. Moreover, they learn to appreciate classic cinema and its impact on American culture.
Follow this guide for a comprehensive lesson on Susan Hayward that will engage your students while uncovering the inspiring story of a legendary actress.
