Frances Farmer is Hollywood’s Sapphire of Strength and Tragedy
The Golden Age of Hollywood
It has been 54 years since Frances Farmer left us, but her legacy endures. Frances Farmer was among one of the most beautiful and talented stars during Hollywood’s Golden Age, which spanned from the late 1920s to the early 1960s. Aside from her striking facial features, Farmer was known for her signature creamy baritone voice that added depth to her performances. Farmer captivated audiences with her charisma and sometimes sarcastic humor.
A Strong Female Presence
She had a strong and powerful presence on camera, and was the portrayal of a strong female lead at a time when that was not the norm. During this era, women in Hollywood were often cast in roles that emphasized their beauty and submissiveness, rather than their strength and independence. It is for this very reason that her life was often met with resistance and controversy.
Early Controversy
Farmer always knew who she was and what she stood for. Aside from being a great actress and singer, Farmer was an intelligent and skilled writer who was highly opinionated. Her writing often triggered controversy. She was a gentle soul who cared about society’s problems to the point it troubled her deeply. Her bold and controversial nature was evident early on. As a student, she wrote an essay titled “God Dies” for a high school newspaper, challenging religious orthodoxy and societal norms. This essay, influenced by philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche, caused a significant uproar and foreshadowed her later struggles with Hollywood and society. Farmer shook the world.
Rejection by Hollywood
Unfortunately, Farmer’s refusal to be molded into the cliché Hollywood socialite gained her Hollywood’s cold shoulder. Movie roles for women depended on a certain image that Farmer often rebelled against — you know, the Hollywood Bombshell. Farmer was stunning, and she was expected to behave “accordingly”. But Farmer wanted to be the opposite, and she wanted to display that on film through strong roles that would serve to empower women; however, those roles did not mirror the success that the films where she fit the status quo gave her. I guess the world wasn’t ready.
Downward Spiral
After spending time with no work and in need of money, Farmer succumbed to the pressures of Hollywood only to realize that it was too late. A revival in Hollywood was nowhere in sight. Feeling discarded in Hollywood after being so well-known and loved can make anyone plummet into a deep depression. Hollywood can be so cruel — they say the higher the climb, the harder the fall.
Institutionalization and Betrayal
In a single year, Frances Farmer lost everything in one fell swoop: her career, her husband, and even her grip on reality. Her home was taken away and she ended up alone in a small apartment with no money. From then on, Farmer spiraled. Wouldn’t you?
We often hear of how substance abuse follows a fall from Hollywood’s grace. Farmer was a victim of the downward spiral that followed her situation. She struggled with depression and binge drinking, which only added to her public and personal battles.
The dramatic and tragic nature of Farmer’s life took an even darker turn when police stormed into her apartment and took her away against her will. As if Farmer didn't lose enough already, she now lost herself. To make matters worse, the incident made sensational headlines that showed pictures of her fighting police at her lowest moments. This underscored the invasive and brutal measures taken against her during that time. But it didn’t end there.
Farmer had a contentious relationship with her controlling mother. Her parents wrongfully declared her mentally incompetent and committed her to a series of asylums and public mental hospitals. Imagine your own parents having you committed! This betrayal added another layer of trauma to her already tumultuous life.
Mental Health Struggles
For years, Farmer faced horrid living conditions and suffered barbaric treatments like electroshock therapy, insulin therapy, and hydrotherapy while in a mental ward under a diagnosis still under scrutiny today. Her confinement was during a time when psychological practices were still developing, and inhumane treatments like lobotomies were still being performed.
Keep in mind that these were the dark times when demonstrating any signs of mental health issues was dangerous, especially for women. Society often viewed women’s emotional and mental struggles as hysteria, leading to harsh and unjust treatments.
These were the times before Roe v. Wade — when women were frequently dismissed, misunderstood, and institutionalized for behavior that defied traditional norms, further perpetuating the cycle of trauma and mistreatment.
Legacy of Resilience
It is clear to see that Farmer had one of the most difficult lives in Hollywood for a woman. This woman survived heartbreak, betrayal, and abuse, alongside media controversy and run-ins with the law.
Despite all this, Farmer’s remarkable strength, coupled with undeniable talent, Farmer was able to climb out of the darkness and live her life. Farmer, so strong and resilient, found a way to find joy despite it all. After her release, she gradually rebuilt her life away from Hollywood, finding peace in simpler, more private pursuits. She engaged in community theater, worked on a farm, and even hosted a local TV show. These activities allowed her to reconnect with her love for performance and creativity on her own terms.
Frances Farmer was among one of the most resilient women in Hollywood. Her life story has survived through so many generations — not just because of her talent, but also due to the intense tragedies she endured.
Immortalized in Film
Farmer’s tumultuous life and struggles were immortalized in the 1982 biographical film Frances, where Jessica Lange delivered a powerful portrayal of the actress, capturing her strength, vulnerability, and tragic experiences. Although the film contains over-dramatizations and events not documented in reality, it successfully conveys the essence of Farmer’s battles and resilience.
Influence on Kurt Cobain from Nirvana
The first time I heard about Frances Farmer was through an interview with Kurt Cobain where he talked about her. Cobain even wrote a song titled “Frances Farmer Will Have Her Revenge on Seattle,” performed by his band Nirvana in the album In Utero. The song reflects his connection to her story. Farmer’s story seemed to resonate with Cobain’s own life and the pressures he felt from being in Hollywood.
A Sacrificial Lamb for Progress
Sadly, Farmer died of esophagus cancer at the age of 56 on August 1, 1970. It seems like some of us were born at the wrong time. Frances Farmer would have thrived in our diverse and inclusive society. But I take that back —she was not born at the wrong time, she just went through some significant and great sacrifices to achieve the progress we see today. In that view, Farmer was a sacrificial lamb in how she helped pave the way for the complex and empowering portrayals of women in Hollywood. She fought to be the person she wanted to be, even at the expense of her own peace. That’s why we have Farmer to thank, and we should never forget her.
Frances Farmer is “The Sapphire”
Farmer was the inspiration for my digital artwork The Sapphire — see below. She was beautiful, rare, and incredibly strong, enduring immense pressure yet shining brilliantly through adversity. The blue sapphire symbolizes resilience, renewal, and tranquility — qualities that Frances embodied throughout her tumultuous life.
Thanks for reading,
The Dreaming Siren 🧜♀️
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You can purchase this original artwork, The Sapphire, on Foundation. 20% of the proceeds from the purchase of this artwork will be donated to the American Cancer Society in Frances Farmer’s honor.