Are you wondering if Evelyn Hugo is a real person or a fictional character?
A short answer to the question is she is not a real person.
Taylor Jenkins Reid, the author, gives the character so much authenticity that readers are often mistaken into believing she actually exists.
If you’re looking for more explanation, keep reading because l will discuss much deeper about the character and its inspirations.
Is Evelyn Hugo a Real Person?
While Evelyn Hugo seems like a real person, she is entirely fictional. Nonetheless, many speculations are floating around the internet. Many saying that the Hollywood icon portrayed in The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid is based on real-life actresses: Elizabeth Taylor, Rita Hayworth, and Marilyn Monroe.
Who is Evelyn Hugo Based on?
1. Rita Hayworth
Hayworth’s quote, “Men go to bed with Gilda, but wake up with me,” is actually used as a descriptive line by the character Evelyn Hugo herself to explain her situation.
Hayworth’s quote comes from her role in Gilda, where she played a beautiful woman who captivated men and served as a sex symbol.
Hayworth was referring to how the public viewed her as an object after her stardom shot up due to this role.
Rita Hayworth was born a dark-haired Latina named Margarita Cansino. Her mother’s Irish heritage is obvious in her maiden name.
She had her hair straightened, dyed it red, and changed her name, producing a transformation that the studios hailed as an “American Love Goddess.”
Likewise, in the novel, Evelyn Herrera changes her name to Evelyn Hugo and dyes her hair blonde to be more appealing to the producers and movie studios.
2. Elizabeth Taylor
If you think someone who had seven husbands only exists in fiction, you couldn’t be more wrong. Elizabeth Taylor also married seven men in her life.
It was hardly uncommon for stars of the “golden days” of Hollywood to divorce, remarry, and divorce again.
But Elizabeth Taylor was one whose affairs were publicly condemned and drew criticism from the Vatican for falling for Richard Burton while she was still married to her fourth husband.
Elizabeth and Evelyn’s similarity goes beyond their careers, with both winning an Academy Award for a role that was probably not the most glamorous part they ever played.
3. Marilyn Monroe
An actress and model, Marilyn Monroe became one of the most recognizable faces in the world. She was a major influence and an icon of Hollywood glamour.
No matter how hard she tried to convince her producers that she could be taken seriously as an actress, she was relentlessly cast in movies that relied on her sex appeal, which she was unhappy about.
Similarly, Evelyn longed to be taken seriously as an actress, but she was repeatedly cast in roles that relied on her looks rather than her talent.
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo Summary
Ageing and reclusive Hollywood movie icon Evelyn Hugo is finally ready, to tell the truth about her glamorous and scandalous life.
But when she chooses unknown magazine reporter Monique Grant for the job, no one is more astounded than Monique herself. Why her? Why now?
Monique is not exactly on top of the world. Her husband has left her, and her professional life is going nowhere.
Regardless of why Evelyn has selected her to write her biography, Monique is determined to use this opportunity to jumpstart her career.
Summoned to Evelyn’s luxurious apartment, Monique listens in fascination as the actress tells her story.
From making her way to Los Angeles in the 1950s to her decision to leave show business in the ’80s, and, of course, the seven husbands along the way, Evelyn unspools a tale of ruthless ambition, unexpected friendship, and great forbidden love.
Monique begins to feel a very real connection to the legendary star.
Still, as Evelyn’s story concludes, it becomes clear that her life intersects with Monique’s own in tragic and irreversible ways.
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo Review
I can confidently say The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is the best Taylor Jenkins Reid book to date.
The book takes me on an emotional ride of the fictional actress that is also both entertaining and surprising.
We see Evelyn Hugo in her movie productions, her glamorous life, how her path crossed with her seven husbands, and finally, the answer to the big question: who was Evelyn’s greatest love?
Evelyn is an ambitious, brave, and compelling woman who loves and wants to be loved. When I read the book, I believed that Evelyn Hugo was alive. It is because the author masterfully crafted her character.
Not only will you find the interviews with Monique, but there are also fictitious news articles inside. You can read about her life through the media’s eyes, giving the character more authenticity.
In all, I highly recommend it to readers looking for a new fictional story with a real heart behind it. But make sure to check The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo Age Rating and Trigger Warnings first.
Wrap Up
Hopefully, this article helped clear up any misconceptions and confusion that you might have had about the character’s true nature.
Despite the almost-believable narrative, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is still a work of fiction with made-up characters. But whether or not Evelyn Hugo is based on a real person, her life story remains fascinating.
FAQs
This book has explicit sexual content, drug use, and violence that may be unsuitable for readers of a young age.
Although Freeform (owned by ABC Family) had originally optioned the film rights to the story, it is now being developed by Netflix and fans of the book are excited to see how it turns out.
Evelyn Hugo, the book’s protagonist, is bisexual, falling in love with both a man and a woman during the course of the novel. Her best friend is gay, and her primary love interest is an assumed lesbian.
