Natasha (79 page)

An enigmatic Natalie at 16, before
Rebel
Without a Cause
. She gave this picture to her beau Rad Fulton, signed “Squirt,” his nickname for her.

The historic first read-through of
Rebel Without a Cause
in Nick Ray’s bungalow at the Chateau Marmont, March 1955. Clockwise from lower left corner: Ray, Jim Backus, Natalie, Nick Adams, Mitzi McCall, Leonard Rosenman (on sofa at right), Bev Long (in ponytail).

Sixteen-year-old Natalie and her 43-year-old lover, Nick Ray, with Clifford Odets and actress Steffi Skolsky in Ray’s bungalow.

For fan magazines, 16-year-old Natalie was photographed on set-up dates with wholesome actor Ben Cooper. Here they share a hot fudge sundae.

Maria enthusiastically posed with Natalie.

Natalie, Jimmy Dean, and actor Perry Lopez in a Warner Brothers dressing room during
Rebel Without a Cause
. Lopez still thinks of Natalie every day.

Natalie at the height of teen stardom in fall 1956, arriving with costar Tab Hunter for the New York premiere of
The Burning Hills
.

Behind the scenes at Natalie’s first wedding to Robert Wagner, December 28, 1957. Faye Nuell congratulates them as Lana, barely visible, stands beside Nuell and Maria lurks behind Natalie, her ever-present shadow.

Natalie and R.J. go over photos with Steffi Skolsky for their profile in
Datebook
. This photograph was taken in R.J.’s dressing room at Fox circa November 1958.

From the collection of Steffi Sidney, courtesy of Steffi Sidney

Natalie and R.J. congratulate publicist Warren Cowan and actress Barbara Rush at their wedding in Janet Leigh and Tony Curtis’ home.

Natalie at her twenty-first birthday party at Romanoff’s, cohosted by R.J. and her secret crush, Frank Sinatra.

A glamour shot of “Natalie Wood,” Natalie’s movie star persona, from the early 1960s. She signed this one for her sister Olga’s sons Alexis and Dmitri.

Olga Viripaeff Collection, courtesy of Olga Viripaeff

Dancer Tony Mordente goes over Natalie’s steps for a number in
West Side Story
. The other dancers thought she was aloof; she was actually deeply insecure about her singing and dancing.