Talitha Getty: Why 1960s Style Icon Died So Early

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

The future model grew up in the bohemian world, inspired fashion designers to create new masterpieces, starred in several films and won more than one male heart. Talitha Getty (née Paul) proudly bore the title of style icon and could live like a fairy tale, happily ever after. She was the wife of the heir to the richest man in the world, but beauty, success and wealth played a cruel joke on her. Talita Getty, 30, was found lifeless in a hotel in Rome.

On the way to success

The parents of the future catwalk star Willem Paul and Adina Mees were artists, like Talita's grandfather through her mother. Spouses Paul were Dutch, and three years after the wedding in 1936 went to the island of Java, where the head of the family was going to paint several paintings. Upon learning of the outbreak of World War II, Willem and Adina decided to temporarily live in the Dutch East Indies (present-day Indonesia).

After the birth of their daughter, the couple settled in Bali, but already in 1943 the island was captured by the Japanese. Willem, Adina and little Talita were captured, where husband and wife were separated. Willem knew nothing about the fate of his wife and daughter until 1945. After the release, the family was reunited, but they all lived together for a very short time. Talita's parents parted, the girl stayed with her mother, and in 1948 Adina died. And since then Talita was brought up in her father's family.

By this time, Willem Paul had already married the daughter of the Welsh artist Poppet John. The couple did not have common children, but both began to take care of Talit with love. The father and stepmother were able to heal the girl's wounds, received as a result of her stay in a concentration camp and the early death of her mother.

The three of them lived in a small house in the UK, went on vacation to the south of France and felt quite happy. Talita dreamed of becoming an actress, studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts, and in 1962 she first appeared in the crowd scene.

It cannot be said that her film career was successful, but Talita Paul was sincerely proud of her work, and she invariably rejected all obscene offers from producers or directors.

In the bohemian world

Life and communication with creative people left its mark on the style and demeanor of Talita Paul. She wore incredible flowy outfits, loved ethnic motifs and quickly became a role model. Thanks to Talita, the boho style came into fashion, and she herself was the brightest and most consistent fan of it.

Since childhood, she was accustomed to moving in bohemian circles, making friends with Yves Saint Laurent and Diana Vreeland, maintaining friendly relations with almost all representatives of the fashion world, as well as with musicians, actors, artists.

On account of her there was more than one broken man's heart, she easily fell in love, plunged into a whirlpool of feelings and passions, but just as easily parted with her beloved. She was a welcome guest at fashion parties, social events and shows, where she was in the spotlight and felt very comfortable.

Love of all life

John Paul Getty II, the son of the richest man in the world, met Talita during a dinner with Klaus von Bülow. Initially, Rudolf Nureyev, who was in love with her, was supposed to be at the table next to the girl, but the dancer was absent for some reason.

Talita didn’t have to be bored: John Paul Getty II took an empty seat next to her and at the same time in her heart. It was an instant lightning strike. They felt a mutual attraction literally at first sight. A year later, the beloved led the girl through the crown, not paying attention to his own father's dissatisfaction with his choice.

The life of the spouses was like a continuous party. They lived between Rome, London and Marrakech, and in each city they arranged noisy receptions with celebrity guests, a huge amount of alcohol and the presence of prohibited substances. The Getty couple gladly hosted famous musicians, actors, designers and bohemians.

Over time, the couple settled in Morocco, where the most incendiary holidays and parties were held at Le Palais du Zahir in Marrakech. In order for nothing to interfere with his enjoyment of life, John Paul Getty II chose to resign from his post as CEO of Getty Oil. The father strongly recommended his son to reconsider his lifestyle, but John was not at all going to change anything.

Mysterious death

Talita changed a lot after the birth of her son in 1968. The baby was two years old when she gave up drugs and decided to devote herself to the child. But the husband did not want to change anything in his life. Talita and her son left for London, and John went to Rome.

They lived apart for a year, but Talita continued to love John. In the summer of 1971, she traveled to Rome to try to save their marriage, where she settled in their shared hotel room with John. Nobody will ever know what happened between the spouses that day. But on July 11 Talita Getty was found with no signs of life. Initially, it was said that the young woman had taken barbiturates along with alcohol, but after an examination it turned out that she had died from a drug overdose.

What could have caused Talita to take a lethal dose of drugs if she had given up on them more than a year ago? The answer to this question could only be given by herself. And John, for some unknown reason, reported the death of his wife to the police only 10 hours after his wife passed away.

The fate of the other model turned out to be completely different. Iman married David Bowie, a renowned innovator not only in music but also in life. He loved to shock the audience and actually stood at the head of the permissive movement, having invented for himself the definition of "trisexual" from the English "try", in translation - "try." His first marriage, which lasted 10 years, fell apart. And 10 years after the divorce, he met Iman, a dark-skinned model who turned all his ideas about life and family.