Who Is Clara Bow? All About the Actress Named in Taylor Swift’s New Song Title

Swift’s new album ‘The Tortured Poets Department’ features a song titled ‘Clara Bow,’ who was an actress in the 1920s and nicknamed ‘The It Girl’

Get to know the woman who seemingly inspired one of Taylor Swift’s songs

After announcing her 11th studio album The Tortured Poets Department at the 2024 Grammys (where she made history by taking home album of the year for the fourth time) the singer unveiled the official tracklist on Feb. 5, which already has many Swifites speculating about the inspiration behind the titles

One song in particular garnering attention is titled “Clara Bow,” the name of actress who rose to stardom during the silent film era of the 1920s.

As fans theorize what the track could be about, they’ve drawn some parallels to Bow and Swift’s respective careers and highly publicized lives in the spotlight.

Ahead of the release of Swift’s new album, here’s everything to know about Bow.

Who was Clara Bow?

Bow was born in 1905 in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn. Following a difficult upbringing, including a mother who reportedly struggled with her mental health and was later institutionalized, Bow pursued a career in film in her late teens.

At age 16, she entered a magazine’s beauty contest which eventually led to her winning a small role in the 1922 film Beyond the Rainbow. Though her scenes were said to be cut, she later found success during the silent film era of the 1920s with roles in Mantrap (1926), It (1927) and Wings (1927

What was Clara Bow known for?

Following her role in the aforementioned 1927 film It, Bow skyrocketed to fame and received the nickname “The It Girl.” As her popularity in the film industry grew, Bow also made headlines for her personal life, as tabloids talked about her upbringing and gossiped about her romantic relationships.