Okay I just started learning about this lady so maybe I don't understand women born in the 1930s that are now in their 80s but what's the deal with the wigs? Why did Debbie always seem to be wearing wigs? Was that like some signature thing she did, a necessary requirement because she had no hair, or did she seriously just hate her regular hair?
"Adding sound to movies would be like putting lipstick on the Venus de Milo."-MaryPickford
You obviously aren't old enough to know that life can be really unkind to people as they get older. Even women can begin to get thinning hair (to almost the point of baldness at times) as they enter their later years. Celebrities especially feel pressure to maintain their youthful look for their public and Debbie Reynolds was the last of the Hollywood glamour stars.
shareWhy did Debbie always seem to be wearing wigs?
Seem to be wearing wigs... Where?
In her movies?
Well, I don't mean to shatter your beliefs, but actors and actress frequently wear wigs and such, when playing different roles. Especially when they play historical characters. And most certainly, when performing in the same play on stage, night after night for weeks or months.
There could be any number of reasons for an actress to wear wigs...
The actress doesn't want to cut their hair short... they don't want to dye their hair... the need more hair and don't have time to grow it... It takes too long to get their hair uniquely styled each day, so they just throw on pre-styled wig instead... They want to look older... or they want to look younger...
I'm sure Debbie had legitimate reasons...
But, I don't think Debbie was bald.
I don't think you can find a picture of her post 1970 that she wasn't wearing a wig. Had to have had some degree of hair loss. A shame, beautiful gifted woman.
shareIn the bright lights documentary you can see that she wore a cap when she was not wearing a wig. In the cap scene you can see that the nape of her neck was almost completely bald outside of a thin strip of hair in the middle of her nape. I suspect that she had a form of alopecia. She also mentions having terrible shedding in another scene later on in the documentary.
shareI'm not sure I'd call that a "shame".
Farley, farley, farley, farley, farley, farley... Hafurrrrrrr...
Just shows Debbie as the ultimate trooper. What would have driven many to shun the limelight. Nodoubt Debbie said something to the effect of "Oh well, I'll just wear wigs" and went on with her performances and engagements. Inspiring any way you look at it.
At least there will be plenty implied.