The Tragic Life of the Talented Natalie Wood

#19: She Divorced Robert Wagner In 1962

After five years of marriage, she filed for divorce in 1962. The split shocked Hollywood, which had idolized them as a perfect couple. In interviews, she spoke calmly about wanting personal growth, but friends recalled deep sadness and exhaustion from constant tension, jealousy, and the relentless public scrutiny they endured.

The divorce marked her first major step toward independence. For the first time, she was no longer part of a managed image or shared brand. She moved into her own home, began therapy, and started confronting questions about identity, fulfillment, and the pressures that had shaped her since childhood.