Around the year 1913, actress Sarah Bernhardt, then one of the best-known actresses in the world, wanted to know what she would look like at her funeral. She ordered an expensive casket, dressed in her favorite gown, and posed for this photograph.

Int’l Newsreel, circa 1913

Though this is a wasteful and grossly self-absorbed action, it doesn’t seem to be atypical behavior from a celebrity of any era. I might go so far as to say it’s predictable. There’s probably some exclusive boutique in Hollywood that offers this service.

What did surprise me is that in early 1923, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania’s Evening News learned that Sarah Bernhardt was seriously ill and took that opportunity to run this 10-year-old picture. I found that a little bit shocking! Is it just me? As it happened, Bernhardt died two months later.

(Apologies to Jennie for profiling more narcissism so soon! 😉 )