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The Actress Who Left Hollywood to Become A Nun
The remarkable true story of actress Dolores Hart
On February 26, 2012, an unlikely figure appeared at the annual 84th Academy Awards.
Amid the crisp tuxedos and sequin evening gowns stood a 73-year-old Roman Catholic Benedictine nun wearing a modest habit, complete with a dark veil and wimple. She walked down the famous red carpet surrounded by acclaimed celebrities such as Meryl Streep and Brad Pitt, pausing once or twice for interviews with stunned onlookers.
Years before, she had been on track to become one of the most celebrated actresses of her time, acting as the on-screen love interest of Elvis Presley in movies such as Loving You and King Creole.
At the height of her career, she was earning jaw-dropping amounts of money and deemed “the new Grace Kelly.” Hart was a beautiful young woman earning attention from the hotshots of 1960s Hollywood.
She went on a date with the English comedian Peter Sellers, who disturbingly returned to her hotel room naked, though was promptly sent away. When she and Elvis Presley shared an on-screen kiss, he couldn’t stop blushing. As she traded Hollywood for a quaint convent, rumors swirled she had borne the King of Rock’s child, despite this gossip being completely fabricated. She later became engaged to her longtime sweetheart, Los Angeles businessman Don Robinson.
But on this day on the red carpet, she was not accepting an award for her extensive acting work.
Mother Dolores Hart — or Dolores Hart, as she had been known by her doting fans of the 1950s and 60s — was attending the prolific award show because of the HBO documentary God Is The Bigger Elvis. The documentary detailed the elderly nun’s life: one that seems both unbelievable and inspiring.
Early Life
Dolores Hart was born Dolores Hick to parents Bert and Harriet Hicks on October 20, 1938.
Her parents were only teenagers when they had their daughter. When she was only three-years-old, Dolores’ father left Chicago for Hollywood as he dreamed of…
