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Once in New York, Eagels concentrated on building a stage career. Although she now regarded herself as an accomplished
dramatic performer, in New York she was just another unknown actress struggling to find work. Possibly to distinguish herself
in the competitive world of theater, she changed her personal and professional identity. Born a brunette, she dyed her hair
blonde. She began telling people her father was Spanish to explain her fiery temperment. The story she told was that her Spanish
surname was originally "Aguilar", which (sort of) translates into English as "eagle". Legend has it that she also transposed
the "L" and the "E" in her name because "Eagels" would look better on a marquee. The theater producer David Belasco said she
talked like an "earl's daughter", so she evidently had adopted a British accent as well. No mention of the previous marriage
or child ever appeared in print. Eagels had re-invented herself as an innocent ingenue.
Eagels took parts as a chorus
girl, and was even a Ziegfield girl at one point, but she sought out dramatic roles. She took bit parts in "Jumping Jupiter"
and "The Mind the Paint Girl." Eagels took a vacation in Paris at one point, possibly with a wealthy divorcee who was interested
in finding a new husband. During this trip, Jeanne may have taken her first acting lessons with Beverly Sitgreaves. While
Jeanne had acting coaches before this time, Sitgreaves was an American actress who had worked with Sarah Bernhardt. Jeanne
also may have started French lessons during this trip.
It was in Paris that Broadway's most famous female impersonator,
Julian Eltinge, first noticed Eagels at restaurants and walking along the Champs Elysee. Even so, they never met or spoke
in Paris. When Eltinge returned to New York, he was informed of a new play he was to appear in. While he was away, one of
the leading female roles had been cast in his absence. Eltinge wanted very much to cast someone who looked and acted like
Eagels. When he was introduced to his new co-star, he was pleasantly surprised that Eagels was the actress selected. That
was their first formal introduction. For 1-2 years, Eagels played opposiste Eltinge on tour in the play "The Crinoline Girl."
Eagels was determned to succeed in a drama, however. In 1915 she learned that producers were casting for the touring
company of the play "Outcast". This play about a prostitute who becomes a faith-healer had been a Broadway hit for Elsie Ferguson,
one of the most admired actresses of the time. Jeanne made a careful study of how Ferguson wore her hair, and how she dressed.
Jeanne made herself look as similar to Ferguson as possible and went to audition for the part. When she returned to her apartment,
the script for "Outcast" and a contract were waiting for her.
Eagels went on tour with the company of "Outcast", first
in upstate New York, and then through the South. In New Orleans, Atlanta, and other Southern cities where she played, she
won rave notices for her acting. It was noted that for such a young person, she had the acting talent usually found only among
more seasoned (i.e., older) actors. One critic even compared her to Eleonora Duse, the great Italian actress. All this buzz
from the South attracted attention in New York, although theater-goers and critics in the Big Apple tended to regard positive,
out-of-town notices with a grain of salt. By the time the touring company of "Outcast" returned to an off-Broadway theater
in New York, a few important critics were interested in seeing whether Eagels' performance was really worth the buzz. They
were impressed.
Around 1916 when Eagles was playing the lead in "Outcast" in New York,she was invited to repeat the
role on film for the Thanhouser Film Company. (In this era, several film companies existed in New Jersey and Long Island to
take advantage of the ready supply actors working in New York). The film was titled "The World and the Woman." While working
on the film during the day, and performing on stage at night, she suffered from insomnia and fatigue. She sought help from
Edwin Cowles, a doctor with a private hospital on Park Avenue. Eagels alternated making movies during the day while performing
on stage until about 1920.
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