Rita Hayworth's Hidden Struggles Are Coming Out Years Later

In the 1940s, men all around the world pinned up a magazine photo of that epitomized glamour, sexiness, and timeless beauty — that was Rita Hayworth. Behind her incredible star power, Rita struggled to keep her head above water. Her life was a revolving door of abuse at the hands of the people she was supposed to be able to trust the most. A rapid climb up the ladder of success came with decades of trauma.

Margarita Carmen Cansino

The nickname Rita was short for her full name — Margarita Carmen Cansino. Born in Brooklyn in 1913, she was given a name that reflected her heritage by her proud Spanish father Eduardo and her American mother Volga.

Mother's Addiction

As a couple, they were prize-winning dancers, and Volga even made it as a Broadway showgirl, but their partnership had a tragic end. Alcoholism made any kind of dancing career impossible for Volga, and she succumbed to her addiction at 47 years old.

New Partner

Eduardo wasted no time swapping dance partners, and who better to fill Volga’s dancing shoes than his talented daughter Margarita? The 8-year old’s education came to a full stop and her already rigid dance schedule increased.

First Appearance

Her first film appearance was dancing in the Warner Bros short La Fiesta. From there, her star continued to rise. Eduardo lied about Rita’s age, forcing her to be his dance partner for competitions and his domineering nature turned physically and sexually abusive.