Whatever Happened to Lori Lovely, a novel by Sarah McCoy, is based on the true story of a Hollywood movie star giving up her career to become a nun. It’s such a good novel I had to keep reminding myself to slow down and savor this wonderful story.
In 1990, Lu Tibbott is under pressure to finish her senior thesis in modern American history. Her graduation from college hangs in the balance. Rather than spend endless hours in a library, Lu decides to write about her Aunt Lori, now Mother Lori at Benedictine Abbey. Lu drives from North Carolina to Bethlehem, Connecticut, tape recorder in hand, to interview her aunt.
The story toggles to 1964 when Lucille Lorianne Hickey, 18, travels from her family’s home in North Carolina to New York to visit her sister and brother-in-law. While there, she works with them in their photography studio. Her brother-in-law takes her portrait and the picture is so flattering, they place it in the front window as advertisement. A scout from Paramount Studios sees the picture and encourages Lucille to try out for a production at a local theater. Lucille grew up dancing and singing, so she’s a natural and is accepted. One opportunity leads to another and she becomes a rising star under the name of Lori Lovely. She auditions for and is accepted as Juliet in a movie, Romeo & Juliet, The Musical, together with Lucas Wesley, a popular singer, who plays Romeo. They work in Rome with an award-winning director and the movie is a huge success. The two become romantically involved, though their careers don’t always allow them to be together.
When tragedy strikes, Lori retreats to a convent, which she has previously visited.
The story toggles from 1964 to 1990, from Lu Tibbott’s interview with Mother Lori, to Lucille Lorianne Hickey’s story and transformation to Lori Lovely.
This is a wonderful novel based on the true story of Dolores Hart, a rising film star in the 1960’s who left Hollywood to become a Catholic nun. I remember hearing about that incident and wondered at the time what caused this unlikely transformation. I don’t know how closely this book follows the actual facts, but I enjoyed Whatever Happened to Lori Lovely and learning the complexities and anxieties of being a famous movie star.