SHARON TATE. The Eternal Diamond

Although “Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood” (2019), directed by Quentin Tarantino, primarily focuses on the lives of two fictional characters, Rick Dalton (Leonardo DiCaprio) and Cliff Booth (Brad Pitt), their story also references real, tragic events from 1969, involving Sharon Tate (Margot Robbie) and Charles Manson (Damon Herriman).

On the night of August 8-9, 1969, the house rented by Sharon Tate and her husband Roman Polanski on Cielo Drive in Beverly Hills became the scene of a horrific murder. Charles Manson’s cult brutally killed five people, including the Polish director’s wife, who was nine months pregnant at the time. The senseless crime, born from the disturbed mind of the group’s leader, not only ended Sharon’s life but forever linked her name with his. Since that fateful August night in 1969, the fascinating story of a talented and beautiful actress has been overshadowed by death. Tate is seen solely as a victim of a deranged killer and his followers. However, Sharon’s life deserves more recognition than her death, whose continually revisited details immortalize the perpetrator rather than the victim. I hope Quentin Tarantino considered this while making his latest film and approached the sensitive subject with respect and dignity, restoring Sharon Tate’s memory for her film roles or her beautiful photos, as she simply deserves that.

Childhood and Early Successes

Sharon Tate was born on January 24, 1943, in Dallas, the day before her parents’ first wedding anniversary, Colonel Paul and Doris Tate. Allegedly, she won her first beauty contest at just six months old. Due to her father’s military career, the Tate family had to move frequently, leaving young Sharon without the opportunity to form lasting friendships, so she focused on modeling. As a teenager, aware of the beauty bestowed upon her by fate and genetics, she won multiple beauty titles in various parts of the United States. In 1960, she appeared on the cover of “Stars and Stripes”, a newspaper for American soldiers stationed worldwide. It was during this photoshoot, where she posed in a swimsuit and cowboy hat, straddling a rocket, that she first considered an acting career in Hollywood. However, another family move seemed to take the teenager further from her goal. The Tates relocated to Italy.

Acting Beginnings

The Italian chapter in Tate’s life wasn’t a waste in terms of her big acting dreams. While attending an American school in Vicenza near Verona, Sharon met many like-minded individuals, all accustomed to frequent moves. Her picture from the soldier’s magazine was also very popular in Italy. This boost in confidence and new friendships allowed the teenager to get involved in Italian-American film productions. She worked as an extra in “Barabbas” (1961) and landed a small role in “Hemingway’s Adventures of a Young Man” (1962), where she met Richard Beymer, an actor known mainly from “West Side Story” (1961) and later “Twin Peaks” (1990-1991). Beymer, captivated by Sharon, encouraged her to pursue acting seriously and gave her the contact information of his agent in Los Angeles, Harold Gefsky. In 1962, the Tate family returned to the U.S., and Sharon, with Gefsky’s business card in her purse, set off to conquer Hollywood.

Sharon Tate’s Filmography

“She was so young and beautiful, I didn’t know what to do with her,” said Hal Gefsky after meeting Tate. It was 1963, and Sharon was only twenty. She needed special court permissions to sign contracts. However, her charm worked on Gefsky, who got her work in television and magazine ads. He also introduced her to Martin Ransonhoff, head of Filmways, who signed Sharon to an exclusive seven-year contract. At twenty, Tate juggled television acting with modeling for top photographers in Los Angeles. Her hunger to make it in Hollywood was often curbed by Ransonhoff, convinced that her time for big roles hadn’t come yet and that she needed more experience. The role that Sharon believed would launch her among the top actors was Liesl von Trapp in “The Sound of Music” (1965). However, the audition didn’t go her way, and she didn’t land the part. Yet, other, darker doors opened for the aspiring actress. Her life and career began to accelerate rapidly. Ransonhoff secured her a role in the horror film “Eye of the Devil” (1966), alongside actors like David Niven, Deborah Kerr, and Donald Pleasence. Although the character Odile, whom Sharon portrayed, had fewer lines than her more established co-stars, her role was pivotal to the film, adding a magical aura of mystery. Everyone agreed that Tate was a rising star.

Life with Roman Polanski

After filming her significant debut, the proud Sharon headed to London, where she met her future husband, Roman Polanski, who was preparing to shoot “The Fearless Vampire Killers” (1967). Coincidentally, Ransonhoff co-produced Polanski’s new film. Convincing the director to cast Sharon as Sarah Shagal wasn’t easy, as Polanski and Tate didn’t immediately fall for each other. Nonetheless, Sharon won the role, under the condition that she wore a red wig. Initially cold toward each other, their relationship quickly blossomed into a passionate romance during filming. Sharon broke off her engagement to her then-fiancé, celebrity hairstylist Jay Sebring, and permanently linked her life with Polanski.

Despite their love, the couple continued to pursue their careers. Polanski finished his film in London, while Tate returned to the U.S. to fulfill her contract with Ransonhoff, landing a role in the beach comedy “Don’t Make Waves” (1967). Although this was her first leading role, the film was unsuccessful, focusing more on her beauty than her acting skills. As a result, Tate began to be perceived as a Hollywood sex symbol.

The March 1967 issue of “Playboy” confirmed this perception. It featured six nude photos that Roman took of Sharon during the filming of “The Fearless Vampire Killers”. The magazine declared 1967 the year of a new star. Prophetic words, especially as Tate landed a significant role in the adaptation of the bestselling novel “Valley of the Dolls” (1967). Unfortunately, the most anticipated film of the year turned out to be a major disappointment, including Tate’s performance. However, Sharon didn’t view her work on “Valley of the Dolls” as wasted, saying she learned a lot about acting and identified with her character, Jennifer North, a young, ambitious actress seen only for her looks. Sharon found it easy to relate to her.

Sharon Tate’s calendar for 1967 must have been filled to the brim. The following year, she had little time for rest either. It began with her beautiful wedding to Roman Polanski in January 1968 in London. After their honeymoon and numerous parties where Tate met nearly all the Hollywood stars of the time, the actress once again began auditioning for roles. In the summer, she started working on the set of The Wrecking Crew (1968), where she played the role of a female spy. Sharon performed her own stunts, and Bruce Lee trained her in martial arts. Tate’s comedic role received favorable reviews from film critics. With the premiere of The Wrecking Crew, industry magazines began to recognize the actress more, and she even received a Golden Globe nomination for her previously criticized role in Valley of the Dolls. Sharon’s career was gaining incredible momentum.

By the end of 1968, Tate became pregnant, and at the beginning of 1969, the Polanskis moved into the residence at 10050 Cielo Drive in Los Angeles. In March 1969, Sharon went to Italy, where Nicolas Gessner and Luciano Lucignani were shooting the film 12+1 (1969). Although her increasingly advanced pregnancy was taking its toll, Tate didn’t pass up the opportunity to act alongside Orson Welles. After completing the shoot, Tate moved to London, where Polanski was beginning work on The Day of the Dolphin (1973). There, Sharon posed for promotional photos for Queen magazine. After the session, she returned to Los Angeles to prepare for the birth of her child. Roman Polanski was soon to join his beautiful wife. He didn’t make it in time…