Fifty years after leaving Hollywood to become a cloistered Benedictine nun, Mother Dolores Hart, who co-starred with Elvis Presley in 11 movies, will appear at the Academy Awards next Sunday – in her habit.
According to the Huffington Post, an HBO documentary about Mother Dolores, entitled God is the Bigger Elvis has been nominated for an award in the best documentary short category. The film documents her unusual journey from Hollywood starlet to becoming Prioress of the Benedictine Abbey of Regina Laudis in Bethlehem, Connecticut.
The last time Mother Dolores was at the Oscars was in 1959 and the now 73 year-old nun told USA Today that “It will be so nice to be back at the Oscars. It’s such a fun night.”
Hart’s journey is indeed fascinating. She was the daughter of two actors who split her time between Chicago and Los Angeles as a child. Raised in a nominally Catholic home, she lived with her grandparents where she attended parochial school.
Her acting career began at the age of 18 and her first big break came when she landed a co-starring role opposite Elvis Presley in Loving You. She would co-star with Presley again in the 1958 film, King Creole. A beautiful woman, she was often compared with Grace Kelly and seemed to fit the role of a Hollywood starlet perfectly.
But she began to have a change of heart while performing in a Broadway play. On weekends and days off, most of her co-stars would go their “country homes” outside New York City. Hart had no place to go and unwind, so a friend suggested she stay in the guest quarters of the Abbey of Regina Laudis in Connecticut.
She became instantly enchanted by the sisters, who followed the Rule of St. Benedict and worked so hard together. When she left the abbey after her first visit, she felt “that I was going to be back here sometime.”
And she was. Three years later, in 1963, shortly after the release of Come Fly With Me, Hart said she felt God’s call. Even though she was on top of her acting career and was happily engaged to Los Angeles businessman Don Robinson, she gave it all up and entered the abbey as a postulant. She made her final vows in 1970.
“I have struggled with this call to vocation all my life,” Hart told 20/20. “I can understand why people have doubts, because who understands God? I don’t. When you are dealing with something at this level, you are dealing with mystery.”
She insists that she didn’t leave Hollywood because it was a place of sin. “I adored Hollywood,” she told USA Today.
So why did she do it? Hart admits her reasons for leaving stardom for the cloister remain as mysterious today as it did back then.
“I left Hollywood at the urging of a mysterious thing called vocation. It’s a call that comes from another place that we call God because we don’t have any other way to say it. It’s a call of love. Why do you climb a mountain?”
On Sunday, February 26, Dolores Hart will walk the red carpet once again, but this time, she’ll do it as the bride of Christ.
Wow that is awesome. I would love to see her walk the red carpet. She has the prettiest face ever. God is good!
Wow. Would love to hear from her! My husband and I work with vocations at our parish school. We have 12 students monthly for burgers at the Rectory with the pastor. Thank you for saying yes Sister!!!
wow congrats Mother Dolores…that’s awesome…God bless you
Oh my….. really….? wow…. God is Good!
I thank the Lord for people like her. It is about time that we show and live what we believe. Thank you Mother Dolores and I hope that your example will inspire more people to be brave and listen to the calling. The harvest is ready, but the workers are few. How I wish I’ve listen to it several years ago.
That is so wonderful and inspiring! I wish Mother Dolores’s story will motivate the youth, once more, to contemplate God’s call to vocations!
Praise God! I wish she’d come to the Philippines and, maybe invite young women to join their congregation.
I truly agree with you Maria Lourdes!
Mother Dolores you are Blessed and a great Blessing to the generation of today confused of GOD”s calling in their everyday life. One of my twin daughter whom i named after St. Benedict was once a band member and artist when she realized a turning point in her life; but before she come to realized her decission she suffered on the hands of an irresponsible surgeon and presently in a vegetative stage. Yet , since she survived that death threatening stage we hold on to the call of forgiveness. Now our family believed in her calling.. to be cloistered in her blessed and pure body as she share the mission of Praying for everyone specially the sick and disabled like her . Thank you for coming out and inspiring us.
Mother Dolores, you’re such an inspiration to all of us..God says, many are called bu few are chosen. You’re lucky to be one of the few…i’ll surely watch on Feb. 26 as you walk with the red carpet…God bless you !
wow..so nice…God bless!
This is an inspiring story Mother Prioress! Thank you for sharing!
I admire your choice to be a Benedictian nun sister Dolores, It’s a serious choice for a normal actress from Hollywood. You are really a God’s choice to be where you are right now. APPLAUSE!!!! And you deserve to be once again into the spotlight and walk to the famous red carpet. God bless you and all the Benedictians nuns, priest and brothers.
its a big success to Mother Dolores after 50 years of leaving the Hollywood , Mother Dolores is still pretty, alive, kicking & full of life in continues acting in the theater of God’s Kingdom .. she will be always the best actress for God here on earth, not only acting but she also live it with whole heart the gospel of Christ,, the good news of our salvation.. GOD BLESS MO. Dolores…
If only more would realize and join in different Roman Catholic Religious Congregation despite the fame they are enjoying. Truly Mother Dolores you are one of the few who hid to GOD’s calling for Vocation. God bless you always.
wow! that is amazing to hear. you have everything and you leave all behind for the greater glory of God. that’s the true meaning of self-denial.
Ave Maria!
Ave Iesu!
Mother Dolores, you have touched millions of hearts by your beauty and grace. You have followed the call of Jesus, indeed, a wondrous mystery to become a cloistered nun in a Benedictine Abbey. Congratulations as you walk the red carpet again. May you inspire many young hearts to join the religious life!
Thank you Sr. Dolores for saying “yes” to God’s calling and your “yes” in publically proclaiming the working of God’s graces in you and for the Church.
Well, Dolly there’s not time with God. For God it’s not too late. With God nothing is impossible. If He knocks on your door…answer Him. I know of several Communities that accept belated vocations. I will keep you in my prayers.
Your sister in Christ,
Alejandra
My wife and I can’t wait for Feb 26 to see you walk the red carpet. Your blue eyes and your smile is as lovely now as it was when we saw you in film. God Bless you!
May your documentry bring a better understanding to the enclosed life of a Benedictine nun and of the term vocation.
It is God’s will during lent – to call many of them to TURN BACK TO GOD through Mother Dolours.
Congratulations dear Mother.
Dear Sis, Congratulations…….You are right when God Calls it is Monumental in all aspects. If He could humble Himself to take the form of Sinful Man …..and wipe away our sins and conquer Death………following Him is the Greatest Call. My love, prayers and sincere wishes Dear sis.
“I have struggled with this call to vocation all my life,” Hart told 20/20. “I can understand why people have doubts, because who understands God? I don’t. When you are dealing with something at this level, you are dealing with mystery.”
She insists that she didn’t leave Hollywood because it was a place of sin. “I adored Hollywood,” she told USA Today.
So why did she do it? Hart admits her reasons for leaving stardom for the cloister remain as mysterious today as it did back then.
“I left Hollywood at the urging of a mysterious thing called vocation. It’s a call that comes from another place that we call God because we don’t have any other way to say it. It’s a call of love. Why do you climb a mountain?”
Dolly, you heard God’s call and answered it, at the height of your fame and having all the good things of life.Your walking up the red carpet in the humble attire of a nun, shows your humility and love for your holy vocation. Please continue the good work as a holy bride of Jesus. I am sure your reward will be great in heaven, as you have “run a good race”. My prayers are with you. Your friend in Christ.
Arulraj Louis
India.
P.S.: Please visit India, if you can.
Great going Mother. God bless you. I was brought up by the Loretto Nuns and I thank God for them. They instilled such great values in our lives. Tolerance. Caring and Sharing. Respect. Forgetting and Forgiving … so difficult to do but you do it once and you realise how easy it is. Bless you all. doe