Those Who Pass by Pera Palace Hotel… Zsa Zsa Gabor
Pera Palace is a magnificent structure that was designed and built to host the passengers of the Orient Express, which started its expeditions in 1888 and remains its popularity to this day. Witnessing many important events, this timeless hotel has hosted many important names, especially Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, from past to present. Queen Elizabeth, King VIII. Edward and Austro-Hungarian Emperor Franz Joseph is one of these names. In addition, famous writers Agatha Christie and Ernest Hemingway and famous theater artist Sarah Bernhardt are among the guests of Pera Palace Hotel. One of the most important guests of the hotel is Zsa Zsa Gabor, who has always been on the agenda with her private life, career, and statements…
The arrival of Zsa Zsa Gabor in Turkey
Hollywood’s famous actress Zsa Zsa Gabor, managed to stay on the agenda until her death with many films she played, her having many marriages, and her scandalous statements. Born on February 6, 1917, Zsa Zsa Gabor was born in Budapest, the capital of Hungary. She participated in the beauty pageant held in her country in 1936 and was selected as the Hungarian Beauty Queen, and this title opened many doors for her afterward.
Since Hungary was in danger of war, Zsa Zsa Gabor’s parents wanted their daughter to be in a safe place. For this reason, the Gabor couple decided that their daughter should go to Turkey with their family friend, Burhan Asaf Belge. After this decision, Burhan Asaf Belge married Zsa Zsa Gabor who brought her to Turkey in 1937 to prevent rumors about them. This marriage, which was a formality, ended in 1941. It is said that during their presence in Ankara, the couple met Atatürk at a party.
Gabor also stated in a book titled “One Lifetime is Not Enough” published in 1991, which tells about her life, that she met Atatürk and established a close relationship with her while she was in Turkey.
Glamorous Actress Under the Hollywood Lights Zsa Zsa Gabor
Zsa Zsa Gabor’s career started when she went to America after her divorce from Asaf Belge. Meanwhile, she had her second marriage to Conrad Hilton in 1942, and she had a daughter named Francesca from her marriage to Hilton.
Also, during this period, Gabor was diagnosed with bipolar. It has been said that the reason for the emergence of Gabor’s illness was the anxiety she encountered for her mother and sister had increased under the influence of Hitler, in Hungary at that time.
Gabor, who played in the musical “Lovely to Look At” in 1952, had her first screen experience. After her first movie, she started to make a name for herself in the sector by taking part in many productions one after the other. In 1954, she decided to divorce Sanders, who later married her sister. After this divorce, the actress, who did not appear in films for two years, returned to the stage with “Death of a Scoundrel” shot in 1956. Gabor, who increased her fame by being selected as the “Most Glamorous Actress” at the Golden Globe Awards in 1958, has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in the television category.
The actress, who last starred in the 1996 film “A Very Brady Sequel”, ended her career due to her health problems. Gabor, whose path crossed with Pera Palace, spent her last year’s struggling with various health problems and passed away on December 18, 2016, almost two months before her 100th birthday.
