Just like today, fashion trends in the 1880s could start if a celebrity wore the right thing. And Sarah Bernhardt was the most famous actress in the world.
A French actress who moved between stage and, eventually, screen, she commanded media attention with every move. Though her personal life drew headlines (she was rumored to have both teased Nikola Tesla and slept in a coffin), she was primarily known for her work.
That was because her acting was groundbreaking, especially for the late 1800s. In 1899, she played Hamlet, and in 1910 she took on the role of Judas in a play that was already controversial enough. Bernhardt was eclectic, incredibly talented, and unique. That's why it makes sense we remember an 1882 play she starred in. The play was called Fédora.
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