Born in 1889, Novella Westmoreland is most famously the mother of the legendary Hollywood actress and vocalist Dona Drake, whose career took off in the 1930s and 1940s. Although Novella herself did not become well-known in the entertainment business, her family’s influence and background created a lasting impression on the cinema and pop culture scene especially through her daughter. This page investigates the life and legacy of Novella Westmoreland, therefore clarifying her part as the mother of Dona Drake and the influence of their family narrative.
Early Life of Novella Westmoreland
Though some accounts suggest she may have had ties to other southern states, like Florida, Novella Westmoreland was born in Mississippi in 1889. Her early life is still mostly secret, and there is scant record of her schooling or upbringing. She was of African-American background, nevertheless, a fact that would have affected her family’s path during the 20th century as well as her personal experiences.
Eventually, her husband Joseph Westmoreland and she moved to Jacksonville, Florida, a port city vital for trade and industry at the time. Since their daughter Eunice Westmoreland was born in Jacksonville, this site became quite important in determining the family’s destiny. Later on, Eunice would be better-known as her stage name, Dona Drake.
Novella Westmoreland’s Daughter: Dona Drake
The mother of eminent American actress, singer, and dancer Dona Drake—who became well-known in the 1930s and 1940s—was Novella Westmoreland. Born Eunice Westmoreland in Miami, Florida, on November 15, 1914, Dona was the daughter of African-American lady Novella and less-known Joseph Westmoreland. Dona Drake established herself during her career by assuming ethnic parts, especially playing Middle Eastern and Latin American characters. Though she was of mixed-race background, she adopted several stage names—Una Novella and Rita Novella—and presented herself as Mexican in order to dodge the racial stereotypes of the period.
In Hollywood during the time, where Black performers were routinely refused popular parts, Dona’s choice to pass as a different ethnicity was a regular practice. Her career took off in the 1930s and 1940s, frequently filling roles fit for Hollywood’s stereotyped portrayal of ethnic minorities in movies such Road to Morocco (1942) and Princess of the Nile (1954). Her tale captures the racial complexity and hardships experienced by many African-American artists during the segregation era, even if her African-American background were not publicly acknowledged until much later. Though not typically mentioned in light of her daughter’s notoriety, Novella Westmoreland was essential to Dona’s identification and success in a field where many of persons of color were compelled to conceal their actual roots in order to progress in their professions.
The Legacy of Dona Drake
Born Eunice Westmoreland on November 15, 1914, Dona Drake rose to be a well-known Hollywood celebrity fast. Her career ran several decades, during which she starred in several movies and gained recognition for her parts in ethnic and musical ones. Though typically typecast in Latin American and other exotic parts, Dona Drake’s charm and stage presence let her excel in the entertainment business.
Dona’s achievement was guided in part by her mother, Novella Westmoreland. Although Novella might not have been at the forefront personally, her backing was vital for Dona’s career as it helped negotiate the complexity of the Hollywood system at a period when the entertainment business was particularly challenging for people of color to enter.
Dona’s past and legacy, molded in part by Novella, helped her to be able to play characters that matched the rising need for ethnic variety in movies. Though Dona Drake’s ability to speak Spanish helped her to frequently identify herself as Hispanic, her actual background was African-American. Given that African-American actors were often sold with racial ambiguity at this era, this subtlety in her ethnicity gave her public persona and the parts she performed depth.
Novella Westmoreland’s Family and Ancestry
The heritage of Novella also resides in her extended family, especially her granddaughter Nia Novella Travilla. Living a life full of her own achievements, Nia, the daughter of Dona Drake and her husband William Travilla, Deeply ingrained in entertainment and creativity, the Travilla family created a heritage connected back to Novella’s Florida beginnings.
Ancestry.com’s genealogy platforms expose the Westmoreland family history, which reveals ties to several areas of the Southern United States for Novella’s ancestors. The ideals and possibilities of the family were greatly shaped by her mother, Novella, and father, Joseph Westmoreland. Family trees and monuments discovered on websites like Find A Grave and BillionGraves help us to better understand Novella’s life and the legacy she left behind for next generations.
The Influence of Novella Westmoreland on Her Daughter’s Career
Unquestionably, Novella Westmoreland has shaped Dona Drake’s career. Novella was a fundamental person in Dona’s life even though she did not show up in movies or aggressively pursue an entertainment profession. Novella’s position as a loving mother helped Dona negotiate these obstacles and attain success in an era when racial barriers were rather stiff. Dona’s capacity to launch a career in Hollywood, a mostly white field, is evidence of the strength of her family background.
Novella gave Dona the support she needed to pursue a career in entertainment, even if being an African-American woman in a segregated environment presented challenges. The sacrifices and tenacity of her mother, whose behind-the-scenes performance was equally important as Dona Drake’s public image, made her breakthrough Hollywood possible.
Novella Westmoreland’s Final Years and Legacy
After dying in 1946, Novella Westmoreland left behind a legacy that continued via her granddaughter Nia Novella Travilla and daughter Dona Drake. Although Novella did not survive to experience the whole scope of Dona’s popularity, her impact was felt all through her daughter’s career.
Her passing at the age of 56 serves as a moving reminder of the difficulties African-American families experienced early through mid-century. Notwithstanding the challenges, Novella Westmoreland’s family overcame and her legacy lives on in the works and life of her descendants.
Conclusion
Though Novella Westmoreland was not a big name, her life and family narrative are significant turning points in the larger Hollywood history. Being the mother of Dona Drake, she helped mold a lady destined to be a beloved member of the entertainment business. Novella’s legacy lives on via her daughter and granddaughter, a monument to the tenacity and fortitude of African-American women at a trying time.
