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Natalie Wood’s Dark Secrets: How Her Mother Acted ‘Inappropriately’ to Help Boost Her Career

Natalie Wood’s mother, Maria Zakharenko, was ‘very caught up’ in the late star’s career and had acted with ‘twisted manipulation' amid her rise to fame.

Born Natasha Zakharenko to Russian immigrants living in San Francisco, Natalie was groomed for stardom from birth. “Her mother brought her over to Frank Sinatra’s house, basically bartering Natalie’s virginity to try to help her career,” says Finstad. Production on her final film, 1983’s Brainstorm, was nearly done when she drowned off the coast of Catalina Island, allegedly fulfilling the prophecy her mother once used to scare her.

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