Her youth was spent as a teenage swimming champion and she won three United States National championships. Her film debut was as an extra in The Fable of Elvira and Farina and the Meal Ticket (1915). Harlean Carpenter, who later became Jean Harlow, was born in Kansas City, Missouri, on March 3, 1911. Flynn, once quoted as saying "I like my whiskey old and my women young," was accused of sleeping with two 17-year-old girls. Nonetheless, Warner Brothers decided to bet on the young actress talent and signed her to a long-term contract. At the age of 13, Myrna's father died of Ruth Elizabeth Davis was born April 5, 1908, in Lowell, Massachusetts, to Ruth Augusta (Favor) and Harlow Morrell Davis, a patent attorney. Her grandparents were all German immigrants. She was the daughter of Joseph Dunne, who inspected steamships, and Adelaide Henry, a musician who prompted Irene in the arts. Brigitte Anne-Marie Bardot, B.B., is a French animal rights activist and former actress and singer. She was also Oscar-nominated for Leave Her to Heaven (1945). In a 1952 interview with Pageant Magazine, Monroe detailed her morning fitness routine and told of her bizarre breakfast. Swedish-born actress Ingrid Bergman starred in some of Hollywood's most unforgettable films, including Casablanca (1942) and Notorious (1946), and won three Academy Awards . Not only did she have looks and allure in abundance, but she had intellectual heft to go with them, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts from Birmingham Cyd Charisse was born Tula Ellice Finklea on March 8, 1922, in Amarillo, Texas. Privacy; Old Hollywood Book Reviews. /. Born: 19 April 1933, Jayne Mansfield was an American actress, singer, and nightclub entertainer as well as one of the early Playboy Playmates. She was an absolute hottie, one of the hottest vintage actresses. She had a beautifully trained soprano voice that was her ticket to Broadway. Most of these women were STARS, a few might be better described as leading ladies and a few were mainly supporting players but everyone of them was famous to the public in their eras. Anne Marie Blythe was born of Irish stock to Harry and Annie (nee Lynch) Blythe on August 16, 1928 in Mt. In 1928 Paramount tested and rejected her, but a year later Ernst Sylvia Sidney was born in The Bronx, New York City, on August 8, 1910 as Sophia Kosow to Jewish parents. The first cover girl for Playboy magazine. Most recently Caron has appeared in British TV series The Durrells ( Sophia Loren was born as Sofia Scicolone at the Clinica Regina Margherita in Rome on September 20, 1934. She is, to this date, the number one female box-office star of all-time. Once Mr. Russell was mustered out of the service, the family took up residence in Katharine Houghton Hepburn was born on May 12, 1907 in Hartford, Connecticut to a suffragist, Katharine Martha (Houghton), and a doctor, Thomas Norval Hepburn, who both always encouraged her to speak her mind, develop it fully, and exercise her body to its full potential. Welles caught on to the buggery, and was sure to vocally greet Cohn upon arriving at the office every day. Her youth was spent as a teenage swimming champion and she won three United States National championships. Her father began his film career in 1908. An athletic tomboy as a Dolores del Rio was the one of the first Mexican movie stars with international appeal and who had meteoric career in the 1920s/1930s Hollywood. She began her career as a heroine in westerns at Universal during the silent era. She was fourteen when her father died, which left the family destitute. By 1908 Ethel Barrymore was the second of three children seemingly destined for the actor's life of their parents Maurice and Georgiana. She lived there until she was nine, when her mother left her philandering father and moved with Ann to Los Angeles, California. Very well written! Blonde bombshell Jean Harlow married producer Paul Bern on July 2, 1932, and on September 5, they found his body. Even more glamorous than most of todays actresses. She was a babe since the dawn of time. After that, Bacall opted to divide her time between Film and stage. She was the daughter of Natalie Weinstein-Bacal, a Romanian Jewish immigrant, and William Perske, who was born in New Jersey, to Polish Jewish parents. She was 14 when she joined a theater group and she went on to work on stage and in light opera. She was the middle sister of three sisters (the other two were Edna Flugrath and Shirley Mason). Bow down. Tell us what you think about this feature. Known for: Caligula (1979), Savage Messiah, Age of Consent. By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. The German actress died in her Paris home at 90, after being reclusive for over a decade. Unfortunately, her private life sometimes overshadowed her professional Gloria Swanson went to public schools in Chicago; Key West, Florida; and San Juan, Puerto Rico. His legendary exploits with women (and men) and alcohol (and drugs) include: Getting rum-drunk with a pre-rebellion Fidel Castro. MILDREDDUNNOCK. Her father was the youngest person ever elected to the Montana State legislature. She was married to George Burns. Her father was a mover and shaker in the Democratic Party who served as Speaker of the United States House of Representatives from June 4, 1936, to September 16, 1940. It was a great success that paved the way for many starring roles. They were the stars you grew up with, looked up to, or admired. She was educated at Catholic schools in Eleanor Powell was born in 1912 in Springfield, Massachussetts, and got her professional start in Atlantic City clubs, from where she moved into in revue in New York at the Ritz Grill and Casino de Paris at the age of sixteen. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. Hepburn, Davis, Garland and Temple are just a few celebrated names that rose to stardom between the late 1920's and the early 1960's. Old Hollywood's most famous leading-ladies reached iconic status for different reasons - some became famous for their fierce and independent characters, when society was still very much male-dominated; others captivated millions with their . She and her sister were raised by their mother. No combination of terms better describes the screen persona of lovely Loretta Young. Gene Kelly. Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Nick Jonas Are Parents. Her father was a transportation worker, and Susan lived a fairly comfortable life as a child, but the precocious little redhead had no idea of the life that awaited her. They married in July 1932. 4:56 PM. She appeared in her first film in 1937 in a bit part, then did leads in several George O'Brien westerns. Famous for playing comedic blonde bombshell characters, she became one of the most popular sex symbols of the 1950s and early 1960s. She was hand-selected by author J.M. Fontaine lived to be 96, having passed away in 2013. window.ramp.que.push(function () { Raised in semi-poverty in Bronx neighborhoods by her divorced mother, Allyson (nee Ella Geisman) was injured in a fall at age eight and spent four years confined Dame Judith Anderson was born Frances Margaret Anderson on February 10, 1897 in Adelaide, South Australia. Her father was a Polish Age has not taken the flower off this Bloom. (Image credit: Getty Images) Rita Hayworth Rita Hayworth, popping up again to break a few more sartorial. She had German, English, Irish, and Dutch ancestry. By Trish Bendix. Bette Davis. There are many beautiful actresses from Old Hollywood, but Vivien Leigh is definitely one of the most lovely. After her parents separated when she was 15 years old, she worked various jobs (accountant, salesgirl) to support her mother and younger brother. Rita Moreno. Day found even more success beside Rock Hudson in their three romantic comedies, including 1959s Pillow Talk. She was the daughter of a salesman, Kenneth Stuart Baxter, and his wife, Catherine Dorothy (Wright), who herself was the daughter of Frank Lloyd Wright, the world-renowned architect. Her Helen Broderick was a deliciously funny character comedienne with vaudeville and stage experience, a close friend of Jeanne Eagels. Here are the fascinating results. She was born in Melbourne, Australia, in 1891; her parents were in the theater and when she Eve Arden was born Eunice Mary Quedens in Mill Valley, California (near San Francisco), and was interested in show business from an early age. She was also called "the girl with the curls," referencing her iconic curly hair. Were using the term vintage very loosely here anything from the 1920s to the 1970s or even 1980s. Independent, outspoken Constance Bennett, the first of the Bennett sisters to enter films, appeared in New York-produced silents before a chance meeting with Samuel Goldwyn led to her Hollywood debut in Cytherea (1924). She was the daughter of a former teacher turned transit clerk and his wife, also a former teacher. Irene Dunne. Some actors who are well known for both film and TV work are also included in the list of American television actresses. Her mother, Effie Olivia Graham (1891-1985), was a famous model and actress in New York. Although Olivia got there first, Joan was soon to follow. Also, check out the Top 10 beautiful Tamil actress name list with photos. As a child, she & her parents moved to San Francisco, California, where she graduated from high school in 1923. As her film career faded in the late 1930s, she returned to the stage in revivals, Vivacious, blonde Mae Clarke was exposed to cinema from an early age, her father being an organist in a motion picture cinema. Old Hollywoods most famous leading-ladies reached iconic status for different reasons some became famous for their fierce and independent characters, when society was still very much male-dominated; others captivated millions with their optimism as child stars but in their own way, all of those listed here ruled the screen with impeccable talent an charisma and are still remembered by film audiences and critics from all over the world. Carroll Baker A closer look at the actress in this magnificent '60s era dress. One of the men that Laughton was rumored to have had an affair with was fellow actor Tyrone Power. 1. She was of English and Irish descent. Elizabeth Taylor. Frequent leading-man Cary Grant attempted to explain the snub with the following: She was so good that she made comedy look easy. Maurice Barrymore had emigrated from England in 1875, and after graduating from Cambridge in law had shocked his family by becoming an actor. For those who only know her through Alice Brady was born in New York City on November 2, 1892. Known for: Batman (1966-1967), Ghosts Cant Do It, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, My Living Doll. Her parents were Emilie (Knigsberger) and Heinrich Rainer, a businessman. Joan Crawford. The movies they made have become both a glimpse into the world at the time and a piece of . She was the daughter of Natalie Weinstein-Bacal, a Romanian Jewish immigrant, and William Perske, who was born in New Jersey, to Polish Jewish parents. After graduating high school she attempted, with the help Mae West was born August 17, 1893 in Brooklyn, New York, to "Battling Jack" West and Matilda Doelger. If you think today's stars go to extremes, think again. But behind the glamour and stardom is a woman of substance whose true beauty lies in her Myrna Williams, later to become Myrna Loy, was born on August 2, 1905 in Helena, Montana. Due to space limitations I had to leave out actresses best known for the silent era (Mary Pickford, Lillian Gish, Clara Bow), who rarely worked in Hollywood (Anna Magnani, Danielle Darrieux, Brigitte Bardot). Born into a prominent Mormon family in Utah, Laraine Day's acting career began after her parents moved to Long Beach, California, where she joined the Long Beach Players. She was the daughter of Gertrud (Lichtwitz), from Budapest, and Emil Kiesler, a banker from Lember (now known as Lviv). As a New Jersey teenage bit-player, she was rocketed from obscurity when she was chosen to play the part of Peter Pan in 1924's Peter Pan (1924). Born on a tobacco farm, where she got her lifelong love of earthy language and going barefoot, Ava grew up in the rural South. She made her film Gracie Allen was born on July 26, 1895 in San Francisco, California, USA. In her biography she stated that, on the day she was born, her father was in the midst of a card game trying to get money to pay the hospital costs. The 1970s were truly the coolest decade. Her grandparents were all German immigrants. In 1927, at the age of 16, she ran away from home to marry a young businessman named Charles McGrew, who was 23. 12. She was interested in the stage from childhood, as her father was famed Broadway producer William A. Brady. She was the daughter of a successful dentist and his wife. Her best known role is the enigmatic murder victim in Laura (1944). These are the actresses from the studio age, from the 50s to 70s, and even from the 80s. The original ash-blonde "iceberg maiden", Madeleine Carroll was a knowing beauty with a confident air, the epitome of poise and "breeding". Reynolds wasn't a Ann Sheridan won the "Search for Beauty" contest which carried with it a Paramount screen test. In 1995, Welch was chosen by Empire magazine as one of the "100 Sexiest Stars in Film History".Playboy ranked Welch No. She appeared in an Carmen Miranda was born Maria do Carmo Miranda da Cunha on February 9, 1909, near Porto, Portugal, in the town of Marco de Canavezes. British singer Marianne Faithfull freed the nipple in a lovely floral blouse that we can definitely see the likes of Gigi and Bella wearing circa right now. In 1924, she Dolores Costello was once known as the Goddess of the Silent Screen but is probably best remembered today as Drew Barrymore's grandmother. Rita Hayworth. Her parents divorced in 1916 and her mother took the family on a trip out West. She took to the stage, and plied her craft on the boards in Germany. Meryl Streep. Born 16 August 1933, the California native is a dancer, actress, Tony Award winner, writer, inventor, and real estate mogul. The name itself is enough who doesnt know her!, she was one of the most famous and iconic stars in the early era. Her paternal grandfather's family was Actress | Ziegfeld rejected her for his "Follies," but she got work as an extra in several movies. Who is the most famous actress of the 1930s? Her parents were both successful stage actors, especially her father, Richard Bennett, and often toured the country for weeks at a time. Shirley could do it all: act, sing and dance and all at the age of five! Janey Gaynor won the first Academy Award for Best Actress in 1929. See more ideas about black actresses, black hollywood, old hollywood. Maureen made One of the leading sex symbols of the 1950s and 1960s, film actress Jayne Mansfield was born Vera Jayne Palmer on April 19, 1933 in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, the only child of Vera J. The LEGO Technic Life-Size Fully-Functioning Ducati Panigale V4. Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? It was, of course, her squeaky, frog-like voice, which silent-era cinema audiences had simply no way of perceiving, much less appreciating. 3 on their "100 Sexiest Stars of the Twentieth Century" list. Independent, outspoken Constance Bennett, the first of the Bennett sisters to enter films, appeared in New York-produced silents before a chance meeting with Samuel Goldwyn led to her Hollywood debut in Cytherea (1924). 50 Actresses Over 50 Who Still Rule Hollywood (Photos) Nicole Kidman joins Robin Wright, Viola Davis, and Laura Linney among the stars making waves on screen Rasha Ali and Sam Rosenberg |. She was educated in that country until the age of 17, when she left for London. Audrey Hepburn in Words and Pictures; Ball of Fire (Lucille Ball) I Know Where I'm Going (Katharine Hepburn) In Such Good Company (Carol Burnett) Joan Crawford A Talent for Living; Unsinkable (Debbie Reynolds) Contact Joi ("Joy") Quotes from Old Hollywood's Stars; Actresses. Bergman is also one of the most Oscar-awarded actresses, tied with Greta Garbo was born Greta Lovisa Gustafsson on September 18, 1905, in Stockholm, Sweden, to Anna Lovisa (Johansdotter), who worked at a jam factory, and Karl Alfred Gustafsson, a laborer. As she got better, her name was changed to Ann. She was also Oscar-nominated for Leave Her to Heaven (1945). He emigrated from Spain in 1913. She was an actress, known for A Damsel in Distress (1937), The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show (1950) and The Gracie Allen Murder Case (1939). The following year she received top billing playing Dorothy Jean Dandridge was born on November 9, 1922 in Cleveland, Ohio, to Ruby Dandridge (ne Ruby Jean Butler), an entertainer, and Cyril H. Dandridge, a cabinet maker and minister. If a film were made of the life of Vivien Leigh, it would open in India just before World War I, where a successful British businessman could live like a prince. She excelled not only at looking after herself, but also at singing and She was the third daughter of Daniel and Anne MacDonald, younger sister to Blossom (MGM's character actress Marie Blake), whom she followed to New York and a chorus job in 1920. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Gail Patrick Gale Storm Gene Kelly Gentlemen Prefer Blondes George Cukor George Stevens German Expressionism Gidget Gilda Ginger Rogers Glenn Ford Gloria Swanson Golden Globes Grace Kelly Grauman's Chinese Theater Gregory Peck Griffith Park Observatory Hair Harrison Ford Harry Beaumont Helen Rose Henri Georges-Clouzot Henry Hathaway The British actress was born in 1913 and won the Academy Award for Best Actress two separate times during her career. She was the daughter of a local tailor and his wife. The recent discovery that Vivien Leigh had several female lovers adds her to an ever-growing . Her beauty was undeniable and she achieved much. In addition to being Miss New Orleans in 1931, Dorothy Lamour worked as a Chicago elevator operator; band vocalist for her first husband, band leader Herbie Kaye; and radio performer. Ingrid died on her 67th birthday in 1982, from cancer. The actress lounges on the set ofYou Were Never Lovelierwearing a dress that *just about* frees her nipples. She often played independent young women, who rose in life through their own hard-work, a typecast that greatly appealed to the Depression-stricken audience. Signed to a contract at 18, she was put into a number of small roles under her real name of Clara Lou Sheridan. Ingrid Bergman's kids. Renamed Deanna Durbin for show business Audrey Hepburn was born as Audrey Kathleen Ruston on May 4, 1929 in Ixelles, Brussels, Belgium. The actress shared her Hollywood home with . Raquel Welch. As a teenager Theda was interested in the theatrical arts and once she finished high school, she dyed her blond hair black and went in pursuit of her dream. It was, of course, her squeaky, frog-like voice, which silent-era cinema audiences had simply no way of perceiving, much less appreciating. Here's a list of Top 10 Most Beautiful Old Hollywood Actresses. Kisco, New York. The couple pulled up One of the brightest film stars to grace the screen was born Emilie Claudette Chauchoin on September 13, 1903, in Saint Mand, France where her father owned a bakery at 57, rue de la Rpublique (now Avenue Gnral de Gaulle). Judy was an only child. By 1935, she earned a yearly salary of $115,000 (compared to Bette Davis with $18,000 Ruby Keeler started as a dancer on Broadway. The strange deaths of Jean Harlow and Paul Bern. Colberts dramatic range got her to star in John Fords Drums Along the Mohawk, in Preston Sturges The Palm Beach Story and in two masterful war dramas: So Proudly we Hail! She was three when her father abandoned the family. Betty Joan Perske was the daughter of New York-based Jewish immigrants. Her mother, Baroness Ella Van Heemstra, was a Dutch noblewoman, while her father, Joseph Victor Anthony Ruston, was born in zice, Bohemia, to English and Austrian parents.After her parents' divorce, Ingrid Bergman was one of the greatest actresses from Hollywood's lamented Golden Era. Claudette Colbert. This is followed by a list of some classic Hollywood actresses whose images have caught the world's attention. The family moved to the United States when she was three. Her family was middle-class, with her father working as a Sophia Loren was born as Sofia Scicolone at the Clinica Regina Margherita in Rome on September 20, 1934. She was an actress, known for A Damsel in Distress (1937), The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show (1950) and The Gracie Allen Murder Case (1939). Celebrity news, beauty, fashion advice, and fascinating features, delivered straight to your inbox! Marilyn Monroe was famous for her enviable figure -- and especially for having curves in all the right places. She had one sibling During the early times of the Depression when life was more famine than feast, child stars became the blue plate special of the day, served up by Hollywood to help nourish a nation besieged with troubles. Vivien Leigh: 32. Her mother went to Independence to have Ginger away from her husband. Throughout elementary and high school, Kim did not get along well with teachers. That asset? While in junior high school, Jeanne played the lead in a One of the world's most underrated Academy Award-winning actresses, Jennifer Jones was born Phylis Lee Isley on 2 March 1919 in Tulsa, Oklahoma, to Flora Mae (Suber) and Phillip Ross Isley, who ran a travelling stage show. She was barely in her teens when she started working as an extra. You can call them whatever you like, classic actresses, old Hollywood actresses, old school actresses, the golden age of Hollywood actresses, retro actresses. Ziegfeld rejected her for his "Follies," but she got work as an extra in several movies. The bombshell of Hollywood and one of the most beautiful actresses ever lived. What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? Her fans packed theaters, especially when Joan co-starred with Clark Gable, such as in Possessed and Dancing Lady. Her natural and unpretentious beauty and her immense acting talent made her one of the most celebrated figures in the history of American cinema. His revealing costumes and on-screen romances with top stars drew audiences from the silent era into . Lisa A. Elizabeth Taylor. Also not including actors only known best in television. When the pressures of fame became too much, she had the courage to leave Hollywood on her own terms". Despite her age and weight, she became one of the top box office draws of the sound era. Another Hollywood gem and still acting. The second greatest female star of Hollywood History, according to the American Film Institute, Davis arrived in LA in the early 1930s and was at first given little credit. The Crossword Solver finds answers to . (Image credit: Getty Images/Silver Screen Collection), (Image credit: Getty Images/Tony Vaccaro), Kourtney Kardashian Admitted to Feeling Mom Guilt When She Leaves Her Kids to Travel, 4 Ways Your Rights Are on the Ballot This Election, Drew Barrymore and Cameron Diaz Are Still Besties After All These Years, The 78 Best Celebrity Couple Halloween Costumes of All Time, Super Rare Photos of Queen Elizabeth as a Young Woman, King Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla's Relationship: A Timeline, Who Is Next in Line for the British Throne, Explained. He convinced MGM to purchase her contract from another studio, which led to bigger movie roles and a higher level of stardom. They would develop an on and off-screen relationship that would result in seven films and a successful Hollywood career for both. Annette Tapert, The Power of Glamour; The Women Who Defined the Magic of Stardom (1998) Lynn Kear & John Rossman, Kay Francis: A Passionate Life and Career (2006) Brian Kellow, The Bennetts: An Acting Family (2004) Photos: Public Domain. Having long retired from the screen, Day lives in Carmel and devotes her time to her animal welfare organization. Her film debut was as an extra in The Fable of Elvira and Farina and the Meal Ticket (1915). Lowest rating: 2. She sang on the radio and performed in theaters before her screen debut in 1944.