As do many forlorn and unrequited lovers, Natasha seized every opportunity to be near the object of her devotion, forming, training and influencing her beyond the exigencies of film acting technique. "I began to feed her mind," she said years later, adding that she introduced Marilyn to the works of poets and composers. According to Natasha, Marilyn was indeed no intellectual, but was rather "a mental beachcomber, picking the minds of others and scooping up knowledge and opinions." Natasha provided a cultural stimulation Marilyn had never known. But emotionally the two women were ever at
...more
