Even in the most intimate moments at home, Natalie Wood remained a woman of simple elegance. While she rarely adorned herself with makeup, her presence was unmistakable. Her daughter, Natasha Gregson Wagner, recalls how her mother's signature gardenia perfume would fill their home, creating a warm and comforting atmosphere. "The smell is what I remember, the comfort of the smell," Natasha shares with heartfelt emotion. "I knew when she was home. [Her scent] would waft through the house." Natasha, now 49, opens up about these cherished memories in the upcoming HBO documentary Natalie Wood: What Remains Behind and her upcoming memoir, More Than Love: An Intimate Portrait of My Mother, Natalie Wood, slated for release in May.
Rediscovering Natalie Wood Through Natasha's Eyes
Natasha aims to reshape the public's perception of her mother, ensuring that Natalie is remembered not as a victim, but as a joyful, accomplished woman who lived an extraordinary life. Natalie's tragic drowning in 1981 overshadowed her remarkable achievements, including her three-time Oscar nominations and iconic performances in films like Rebel Without a Cause and West Side Story. "The narrative has been skewed toward the tragic," Natasha explains. "That’s not the mom I knew." Despite her fame, Natalie was anything but a diva at home. Natasha recalls her mother's down-to-earth nature, noting, "She knew she was a movie star, but she never confused that with being a real person. She knew how to balance her public and private life."
Life Beyond the Spotlight: Natalie the Mother
While Natalie may have lacked culinary skills, she more than made up for it with her hands-on approach to motherhood. She strived to raise strong, intelligent daughters and instilled values that would serve them well in life. Natasha, who shares a half-sister, Courtney Wagner, and a stepsister, Katie Wagner, recalls her mother's wisdom and bravery. "She was so brave and she wanted us to be brave, too," Natasha says. Natalie's business acumen was shaped by her early experiences as her family's sole breadwinner at just 12 years old. Natasha remembers her mother discussing the importance of financial responsibility, imparting lessons that resonate to this day.
Read also:Ben Affleck Takes Teen Son Fin On Funfilled Aquarium Adventure
Natalie and Robert Wagner: A Love Story
