The Woman Who Had It All With Elvis Fled Hollywood For A Very Different Life

Initially, though, that illustrious beginning in Loving You seemed to set the tone for Hart’s career trajectory. After that picture was a hit, she went on to play the beautiful love interest in movies such as Lonelyhearts and Where the Boys Are. And as Hart’s popularity grew, so did her list of leading men.

Yes, from 1957 to 1963, Hart would share the screen with many of the era’s biggest male stars, including George Hamilton, Montgomery Clift and Stephen Boyd. But the up-and-coming actress didn’t just appear in movie theaters during that period.

Hart also made a number of TV appearances during her career, with roles on Alfred Hitchcock Presents and Playhouse 90 introducing her to the audiences watching her at home. And the parts seemingly just kept coming. There was a second movie with Elvis, for one, as Hart and the musical icon joined forces once again for 1958’s King Creole.

However, after starring in Where the Boys Are in 1960, Hart made a significant career move. Up until that point, she had portrayed somewhat frivolous characters on the big screen; now, though, she decided to take on a part that had considerably more weight. And playing St. Clare in 1961’s Francis of Assisi may well have had an effect on Hart. For while the film was both a critical and box-office flop, it nonetheless appears to have made the young star take stock of her life.

It should be noted, though, that the failure of Francis of Assisi didn’t stop Hart from getting meaty roles. The Golden Globe-nominated The Inspector, for example, saw the young actress acclaimed for her performance as a Holocaust survivor. But just over 12 months on from the release of that movie, Hart made her last appearance on the big screen. Then, almost without a word, she disappeared from Hollywood. And the reason why may very well surprise you.

To find out why Hart left Tinseltown behind, however, we need to understand her earliest struggles. Then known as Dolores Hicks, she entered the world in October 1938 as the only child of teenagers Harriet and Bert. And although the couple did marry, the relationship didn’t last; ultimately, Hart’s mom and dad split up when she was only three years old.

Following the separation, the young Hart then moved to Chicago to live with her grandparents. And as it happens, it was while she was in the city that she first came into contact with Roman Catholicism. You see, Hart attended a local Catholic school called St. Gregory – although that institution was chosen simply because it was near her relatives’ home. And Hart would further explain the decision when talking to the Hartford Courant in 2008, saying, “My grandparents didn’t want me to get run over by streetcars.”

But even though Hart lived away from her parents, Bert and Harriet still stayed in touch with their daughter. Then, within time, Bert — who was an aspiring actor himself — moved to Hollywood to pursue a movie career. It appears, too, that her dad’s relocation had an influence on Hart. In a 1998 interview with the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the star revealed, “[My father] lived in Beverly Hills, and I used to visit lots with him. I was a Hollywood brat. I always wanted to be part of that life.”

What’s more, when Bob landed a role in 1947’s Forever Amber, he brought his daughter along for the ride. Before she’d even reached her tenth birthday, in fact, Hart had already appeared in a Hollywood movie. And while the role was uncredited, it was nevertheless a start.

After Hart had made her modest Hollywood debut, though, it seems that she went back to school. It was also around this time that she officially converted to Catholicism. Then, after moving to Los Angeles with her mother in 1949, Hart attended high school in California before taking up a place at the state’s Marymount College – another Catholic institution. And it was while studying at the university that Hart would get the news that would change her life.

Hart herself explained this moment further in a 2018 speech at the Women’s Morning of Spirituality event in Tennessee. “I was told by the fellow that I dated, who said he was my agent… that I might get a phone call,” she remarked. And when that call came, it brought incredible news: Paramount wanted her to audition for a role in an Elvis Presley movie. Still, there was just one hitch, though. You see, Hart had no idea who Elvis was. And after bagging the part, the young actress proved her naivety when first meeting the King. She told her audience in Tennessee, “I said [to Elvis], ‘I’m so glad to meet you. What do you do?’”

Elvis, ever the gentleman, simply replied, “Well, I’m a singer.” Loving You, in fact, was his second ever movie and provided his first leading-man role. Hart – at this point using her stage name – portrays Elvis’ girlfriend on screen, and at one point she even kisses the musical icon. The former star is still asked what smooching Elvis was like, too, leading her to once quip, “I think the limit for a screen kiss back then was 15 seconds. That one has lasted 40 years.” But that embrace wasn’t the only thing that the two shared.

Hart had denied that there was any romance between her and Elvis, although she has admitted that the pair studied Bible verses together. At one point, the legendary singer even asked her out – an offer that Hart ultimately rejected. And while the actress did suggest that the two of them meet up after the shoot ended, that date never materialized. Even so, Hart and Elvis did work together a second time – just one year later – on King Creole.

The two stars once again played romantic roles in the drama, which went on to break into the top five at the U.S. box office. But as it happens, the flick almost didn’t get made. You see, the musical icon was due to begin his military service during production, although he was finally allowed to delay this for two months in order to complete the picture. And the King may have made the right choice, too. While one critic disliked the movie’s portrayal of women, another praised Elvis for giving his “best acting performance to date.”

Then, following Hart’s initial success, she signed a seven-year Hollywood contract. Working almost continuously for the next few years, the actress was well on her way to becoming a star. In 1958 she even made her Broadway debut in The Pleasure of His Company – a play in which she’d appear for over a year. But during the show’s run, extreme fatigue began to creep up on Hart. So, she turned to a friend, and they ended up giving her some unusual advice.

Specifically, Hart’s buddy recommended that she take a couple of days off and visit the Abbey of Regina Laudis in Connecticut. That site housed a Benedictine monastery where the nuns lived in devotion to God. The actress took those words on board, too, and was ultimately glad that she did. Hart later explained to the New England Historical Society (NEHS), “I went and loved it. It was peaceful, and I found inner certitude.” And while she was there, the star had an interesting chat with the Mother Superior.

During Hart’s talk with the senior nun, she expressed concern that her Hollywood career didn’t fit with Catholic values. “I was worried,” she later told the NEHS, “because you could be sexually aroused by boys and get involved with men.” But the nun, as it happens, had a rather surprising answer.

“Well, why not?” the other woman reportedly said. “Chastity doesn’t mean you don’t appreciate what God created. Chastity says, ‘Use it well.’” The Mother Superior also advised the actress not to give up her day job. “Go back and do your movie thing,” she replied when Hart asked about her religious vocation.

Taking the Mother Superior’s advice, Hart did exactly that, going on to star in Lonelyhearts that same year and Where the Boys Are in 1960. And along the way, she met Don Robinson – an architect from California who seemingly fell quickly for the actress. Later, Hart told her audience in Tennessee, “[Don and I] went out a couple of times, and he said, ‘Would you marry me?’” She refused, however — on that occasion, anyway.

Then Hart and Robinson dated for a few years, and, eventually, she accepted his proposal. But while both Hart’s career and personal life looked to be going well, all was not as it appeared. You see, after having taken on the role of St. Clare in Francis of Assisi, the actress subsequently met Pope John XXIII. The pontiff praised her work, too, telling Hart, “You are Clare.” And it’s said that this meeting had a profound effect on the young star.

That effect became evident when, just two years later, Hart disappeared from Hollywood completely. Yes, after having secretly visited the abbey on several further occasions, the star made an incredible decision: she gave away everything she owned and joined the monastery as a novice nun. And both Hollywood and Robinson were shocked.

Not long after the couple’s engagement party, Hart had come clean to Robinson. The architect had originally feared that she had met someone else, in fact, but was more relieved to hear the truth. And although Hart would claim that she did love her fiancé, she explained that her calling to the monastery was “an affair of the heart.” Then, following that meeting, the soon-to-be-nun drove to Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, to begin her training.

In 1963 Hart made her final on-screen appearances. At the movies, she bowed out in the British flight attendant comedy Come Fly with Me; on TV, meanwhile, her swansong came in an episode of The Virginian, where, in an eerie foreshadowing of her real life, she played a Catholic missionary. And with that, Hart left Tinseltown for good and made her way to the Benedictine Abbey of Regina Laudis.

The Abbey of Regina Laudis was originally founded in 1947, although it almost wound up in a completely different part of the country. Yes, according to Hart, the original Mother Superior was actually heading to Pennsylvania, but somehow wound up in New England. And it’s lucky that the nun did, as a local Connecticut businessman made her an interesting proposition.

Indeed, when factory owner Robert Leather heard of the Mother Superior’s purpose, he donated part of one of his buildings to the cause. Then, over the years, the site expanded to include more land that had been bequeathed to the abbey. Now sprawling over a whopping 400 acres, the grounds house 37 nuns.

In service to God, the abbey’s nuns dedicate their lives to prayer and hard work. This includes performing Gregorian chants each day in praise of the Lord; there’s even a CD available of the monastery’s melodical daily worship. But regular singing wasn’t the only thing to which Hart had to quickly acclimatize.

Hart had to adapt to manual labor, too, as the sisters are expected to pitch in and make everything themselves where possible. The erstwhile star also had to share a bathroom with at least ten other women. And then there’s the small matter of the dividing petition between the nuns and their visitors.

Indeed, although the abbey’s nuns have not vowed to be silent, they aren’t necessarily allowed to mingle willy-nilly with the general public. As such, large, ornate metal grilles separate the sisters from the guests. And as Hart recalled during that 2018 talk, her family took a while to adjust to this new state of affairs. “I refuse to call this a grille,” Hart’s mother apparently said of the screen. “[These] are just lovely places for vines to grow up.”

Then, in 1970, Hart took her final vows and officially became Sister Dolores, after which she has spent the rest of her life in dedication to God. But the nun didn’t quite leave everything behind when she joined the monastery. One particular friend stuck around for 50 years, in fact, despite his broken heart. Yes, Robinson – the former star’s ex-fiancé – stayed in touch.

That contact didn’t run to the odd letter or phone call, either; instead, Robinson visited Hart at least twice a year until his death in 2011. After his engagement ended, you see, the architect reportedly told his former partner that “every love doesn’t have to wind up at the altar.” And with nearly 50 years of devoted sojourns to Connecticut under his belt, he seems to have meant every word.

Plus, although Hart left Hollywood behind in 1963, she has admitted that she wouldn’t be where she was without her experiences in California. During that 2018 talk, the nun even confessed, “If it hadn’t been for getting into my film career, I would never have known [the abbey]. I did not leave Hollywood because it was a scam.” And perhaps for those reasons, fellow actors have supported the monastery over the years.

Paul Newman and Patricia Neal both helped, for instance, when the monastery needed a theater and lighting grid for the site. The abbey has a thriving community arts program, too, with Hart at the middle of this thanks to her unrivaled previous experience. And when it came to raising cash – whether for those artistic activities or an expansion to the grounds — the former actress once again took center stage.

Yes, when fire hazard issues threatened to close the abbey in 2011, Hart shifted her fundraising into high gear to save her home. Using her fame to raise awareness — and money — the actress-turned-nun completed a speaking tour and gave lots of press interviews. She also published an autobiography that delved into detail about her Hollywood career, her vocation and, of course, Elvis.

The book, Ear of the Heart: An Actress’ Journey from Hollywood to Holy Vows, came out in 2013, and as of 2015 was on its third print run. Hart has also lent her artistic talents to a children’s book, for which she provided the illustrations. And in 2012 the erstwhile screen star found herself once again appearing in a movie.

That starring role came about when a documentary team decided to make a film about Hart. Entitled God Is the Bigger Elvis, the 37-minute-long feature earned rave reviews as well as a nomination for the Best Documentary (Short Subject) Oscar. And, incredibly, Hart actually attended the award ceremony in Los Angeles.

Yet while God Is the Bigger Elvis didn’t end up winning its category, Hart still has one very special accolade under her belt. Owing to the nominations of that movie and The Inspector back in 1960, Hart joined the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. And as such, she remains the only nun to be an active, voting academy member in its entire history.

So, after having spent over 50 years in a religious order, Hart is thriving — as is the abbey, with the now Mother Dolores’ involvement in the site’s expansion continuing apace. And even though Hart is now in her 80s, she carries on working. But if an actress-turned-nun-turned-documentary-star doesn’t carry enough interest for you, there’s another sister that may catch your attention.

You see, the Abbey of Regina Laudis also boasts an artisanal cheese-making member. Sister Noella Marcellino, who possesses a Ph.D. in microbiology, specializes in studying — and producing — the delicious foodstuff. And she, too, has appeared in her own documentary: a PBS film called, you guessed it, The Cheese Nun. Mind you, that nickname is one that Marcellino really didn’t like until Hart gave her some excellent advice.

Hart told her sister to accept the moniker, as cheese sounds a lot more appealing than fungus. And she’s definitely not wrong. So, did the one-time screen star make the right choice to leave her film career behind? Well, it seems that she thinks so. During a 2017 appearance at New York City’s The Leo House, Hart said, “I never felt I was walking away from Hollywood. I felt I was walking into something more significant. And by [doing] that, I took Hollywood with me.”