Vera-Ellen enchanted audiences with her slender figure, radiant smile, and unforgettable dance routines alongside legends like Fred Astaire in films such as Three Little Words and White Christmas. Despite her on-screen brilliance, her life was marred by rumors of anorexia, premature aging, and reclusiveness. While her talent shone brightly in Hollywood, speculation often overshadowed her legacy. This article delves into the rumors and reveals the truth about Vera-Ellen’s extraordinary career, personal struggles, and enduring impact.
Dance Talent and Appeal
Vera-Ellen’s remarkable dance abilities were evident from a young age. Born in Ohio in 1921, she began ballet lessons at nine, quickly impressing her teachers and mother with her natural talent. By twelve, she was the star pupil at a prestigious Cincinnati dance studio, known for effortlessly mastering routines and captivating audiences with her energetic performances. Her skills continued to flourish during her teenage years, as she excelled in tap, jazz, and ballet.
At just eighteen, Vera-Ellen secured a spot touring with the Broadway musical Very Warm for May in 1939, earning acclaim from New York critics for her exceptional singing, acting, and dancing abilities. This early success led to a film contract with Samuel Goldwyn Productions.
Vera-Ellen’s versatility and appeal quickly became evident on the big screen. In Wonder Man (1945), she charmed audiences alongside Danny Kaye with a high-energy dance number that showcased her flexibility and comedic timing. In Words and Music (1948), she held her own with dance icon Gene Kelly, matching his athletic style and demonstrating incredible stamina. In 1949’s On the Town, she danced with precision, grace, and flair alongside Kelly and Frank Sinatra.
Throughout her career, Vera-Ellen was one of only a handful of dancers who partnered with both Kelly and Astaire on screen. Her elite skills and joyful presence made her a standout in Hollywood musicals. Her most iconic role came in 1954’s White Christmas, where she starred alongside Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye. In numerous show-stopping numbers, Vera-Ellen displayed her versatility, gracefully twirling across the floor and executing rapid-fire tap combinations with a captivating mix of elegance and power. Her name became synonymous with dance in Hollywood, dazzling audiences with her refined technique and animated performances.
Vera-Ellen’s Relationship with Food and Body Image
Vera-Ellen’s complicated relationship with food and body image began at a young age. As a promising dance talent, she faced immense pressure to maintain a very slim physique from her instructors and especially her mother. Strict diets were common for dancers, but the intense focus on thinness profoundly impacted Vera-Ellen’s habits and body image for life.
Starting at age twelve, Vera-Ellen was put on highly restrictive diets by her mother and teachers, who closely monitored everything she ate. Her meals consisted mainly of raw fruits and vegetables, with no treats allowed. In later years, Vera-Ellen reflected on feeling “controlled by food” from this formative period in her dance training.
As she continued rigorous training through her teen years, the external pressures escalated. Daily weigh-ins were enforced, with scoldings for even slight weight fluctuations above her sub-110-pound target. Vera-Ellen became anxious about eating, even as she coped with the physical demands of long rehearsals and performances. The message was clear early on: extreme discipline around food and thinness was mandatory for success in dance.
When Vera-Ellen broke out on Broadway at eighteen, she encountered the same distorted perspectives. Reviews often focused more on her weight and tiny waist than her singing, acting, and dancing talents. This reinforced the notion that a slender, boyish physique was essential for a rising star.
Hollywood only intensified these pressures. As one of Samuel Goldwyn Studio’s most popular young talents, Vera-Ellen was closely managed by executives, publicists, and wardrobe staff. Special lighting, padding, and costumes were employed to conceal any slight weight fluctuations and present an exaggerated slimness on camera. During her peak fame in the late 1940s and early 1950s, Vera-Ellen maintained a rail-thin physique while coping with body image issues rooted in her early training.
Friends noted that her diet still consisted mostly of fruits and vegetables, and she had an anxious, perfectionist attitude about maintaining her weight. There were also signs of possible binging issues behind the scenes. As Vera-Ellen aged and dance roles dried up in the late 1950s, her long-term food and body image struggles took a greater toll. Some suspected she alternated between extreme dieting and uncontrolled binging, further distorting her self-image as her weight fluctuated significantly.
The Mystery of Her Neck in White Christmas
One of the most enduring rumors about Vera-Ellen involves her neck in White Christmas. In every scene, she wears either a choker necklace or a high-necked costume that fully covers her neck and décolletage. This sparked speculation that she was hiding skin prematurely aged or ravaged by eating disorders.
The most popular explanation is that her neck showed signs of aging, wrinkling, and vascular damage from years of extreme weight fluctuations and eating issues. Some claim that makeup artists informed her that her neck looked decades older than her actual age, leading to the use of chokers and high-necked costumes to conceal the skin.
However, professional portraits taken before and after filming dispute this theory. In photos from 1953 and at the 1955 Oscars, Vera-Ellen’s neck and décolletage appear smooth and youthful, without signs of wrinkling or pronounced tendons. Her slim figure also looks relatively consistent, not showing signs of recent weight loss. This evidence counters the argument that she was hiding skin ravaged by anorexia or binge eating.
Another explanation is that unflattering lighting tests revealed her extremely slender frame looked bony and aged under the cameras. Self-conscious about her prominent anatomy, high-necked costumes were suggested to conceal the harsh shadows. However, Vera-Ellen had endured similar lighting and cameras for years, and films immediately before and after White Christmas show her neckline without issue.
There’s also the possibility that the concealed neck simply became her trademark look in White Christmas by request. Her shy, innocent character was meant to contrast with Rosemary Clooney’s worldly star persona. The costume department may have leaned into this contrast by covering Vera-Ellen more. Yet, she wore low-cut dresses on the red carpet shortly after filming, challenging the idea of a permanent cover-up.
While Vera-Ellen’s history with food and body image struggles shouldn’t be dismissed, the evidence suggests she wasn’t exclusively hiding severe aging or illness on her neck and chest during White Christmas. More likely, it was a costume choice for her character or lighting concerns. However, the rumors persist, overshadowing her scene-stealing dance talents in the film.
Perspectives from Friends and Family
Despite the rumors about Vera-Ellen’s life, those closest to her offer a kinder perspective. Friends praised her warmth, generosity, and loyalty through turbulent times. Longtime friend and actress Ruth Webb described Vera-Ellen as one of the most wonderful people she had ever known. Although Ruth acknowledged Vera-Ellen’s likely battles with food and body image, she highlighted her friend’s genuine, caring spirit, often taking in stray animals and financially supporting other struggling performers.
Fred Astaire, a frequent co-star and dance partner, also held Vera-Ellen in high regard. In interviews, he described her as a “charmer” and “delight” to work with, praising her “remarkable talent” and “tireless professionalism.” Vera-Ellen equally admired Astaire, calling him “simply perfect” as a dance partner for his patience, guidance, and constant encouragement.
While more private and guarded later in life, Vera-Ellen’s inner circle remembered her fondly as a loyal confidant. Some disputed the idea that she became fully reclusive, noting that she still met close friends for quiet dinners and holidays. Her only child, Victoria, offered the most intimate perspective, sharing memories of family trips, handmade gifts, and visits filled with optimism, laughter, and resilience.
In conclusion, Vera-Ellen’s life was a blend of extraordinary talent and personal struggles. Despite rumors and speculation, she left an indelible mark on Hollywood with her exceptional dance abilities and joyful screen presence. Her legacy as one of the greatest dancers of the golden age of film endures, a testament to her grace, perseverance, and undeniable talent.
