How magnificent and mysterious they were! The goddesses of old Hollywood embodied elegance, charm, and Hollywood glamour. Let’s journey back to a time when screens radiated with their exquisite presence and learn more about the lives and careers of these cinema icons.
Greta Garbo
Greta Garbo, the most enigmatic actress of Hollywood, made a significant contribution to conquering the world as a blonde and taught women how to wear trousers.
Marlene Dietrich
Marlene Dietrich was known for her eccentric collection of headwear. She collected hats and felt hats of various shapes and sizes, and they became an integral part of her style.
Betty Davis
Betty Davis was known for her tough personality. She often clashed with studio executives due to her belief in the need for more serious and complex roles for women in cinema. Her fighting spirit and her desire for quality roles made her one of the most influential actresses in Hollywood history.
Vivien Leigh
Vivien Leigh became globally renowned thanks to her role as Scarlett O’Hara in the movie “Gone with the Wind.” However, many may not know that she had a deep interest in theater and appeared in several plays in London’s West End. She also worked in theater in New York. Vivien Leigh was not just a film actress but also a theater actress, and her contributions to both art forms were significant.
Grace Kelly
Grace Kelly was not only a famous actress but also became a real princess. In 1956, she married Prince Rainier III of Monaco, becoming Princess Grace of Monaco. This fairytale-like transformation from a Hollywood actress to royalty captured the world’s attention and added a unique dimension to her life story.
Audrey Hepburn
After ending her acting career, Audrey Hepburn dedicated much of her life to UNICEF, serving as a Goodwill Ambassador. She traveled to numerous countries, advocating for children’s rights and participating in humanitarian efforts. Audrey Hepburn’s commitment to making the world a better place was as remarkable as her acting talent.
Marilyn Monroe
Marilyn Monroe endured a difficult childhood and orphanhood, but later became one of the most famous and adored actresses in Hollywood history, known for her charm and sexuality. Her story became a symbol of the American dream and the pursuit of success.
Elizabeth Taylor
Elizabeth Taylor was known not only for her acting career but also for her passion for precious stones and jewelry. She had an impressive collection of jewelry, including famous diamonds like the “Kraken Record” and the “Pearl Genealogy”.
Lana Turner
Lana Turner became one of the most famous actresses of Hollywood’s golden era thanks to her beauty and artistic talent. She had a sense of meticulousness and was so attentive that during the filming of the movie “The Postman Always Rings Twice,” she noticed that the character’s clothing had to be of high quality and match the image. This led to an increase in the film’s budget and showcased the actress as someone who aimed for perfection.
Ginger Rogers
Ginger Rogers was not only a talented actress but also an exceptional dancer. Her paired tango with partner Fred Astaire in the musical “The Barkleys of Broadway” was one of the most memorable moments in the history of cinema.
Natalie Wood
Natalie Wood learned to ride a motorcycle for her role in the film “Rebel Without a Cause”. In this iconic movie, Natalie Wood played the role of a girl named Judy, and for one of the scenes, she had to learn how to ride a motorcycle. She successfully mastered this task and filmed a scene that became one of the most memorable in her career.
Ava Gardner
Ava Gardner was the first woman to sign a contract with NASA, the space administration. This contract stipulated that she would be used as the “face” of space and space exploration programs to engage the public in these important research efforts. This allowed Ava Gardner to contribute to the popularization of space science and research.
Sophia Loren
Sophia Loren is a renowned Italian actress, but she also speaks English and French fluently. This allowed her to easily appear in films from different countries and work with multinational film crews. Her multilingual skills made her even more in demand in the global film industry.
Ingrid Bergman
Ingrid Bergman, the famous Swedish actress, was the first actress to win three Academy Awards in the “Best Actress” category. Her talent and contribution to the art of cinema were recognized and respected both in the United States and worldwide.
Angela Lansbury
Angela Lansbury was both a successful actress and vocalist simultaneously. Her versatility was evident as she won an Emmy Award for her role in the popular TV series “Murder, She Wrote” and also became known as the voice in animated films, including the original voice of Mrs. Potts in Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast”.
Ann Sheridan
Ann Sheridan was one of the popular actresses of Hollywood’s Golden Age. Her natural hair color was dark, but she dyed it blonde to better fit the image, and this image made her famous.
Jean Harlow
Jean Harlow was known for her sense of humor and her ability to make jokes about herself. In her correspondence with other celebrities, one can often find witty and self-deprecating comments. Jean Harlow was not only a beautiful and talented actress but also possessed a sharp mind and a good sense of humor.
May West
May West was the first woman to write and perform a song that made it into the Billboard Top 10 charts. Her song “Frankie and Johnny” became a hit in 1930, capturing the public’s attention. This success highlighted her talent and versatility as an artist.
Bridget Bardot
Bridget Bardot was the first actress to become the face of a cosmetics company. In the 1950s, she signed a contract with the cosmetics brand “Lancôme” and became its official spokesperson. This move made her one of the first celebrities to endorse cosmetics and solidified her status as a global style and beauty icon.
Veronica Lake
Veronica Lake caught the attention of one of the producers at Paramount Pictures with her portrayal as a sultry blonde with long hair covering one eye in her very first role. It was this distinctive image that would later become her memorable trademark for audiences.
Lauren Bacall
Lauren Bacall, in addition to being a talented actress, was also a writer. In 1978, she wrote an autobiography titled “By Myself”, which won the prestigious National Book Award in the autobiography and memoir category. This fact highlights her talent and versatility as an artist.
Carol Lombard
Carol Lombard actively supported the sale of war bonds and organized numerous events to raise funds for the front. Due to her dedicated involvement in this campaign, she is considered one of the first Hollywood actresses to actively support the United States’ wartime efforts.
Gene Tierney
Gene Tierney was a famous actress of Hollywood’s golden era and is considered one of the first women to win an Oscar in the “Best Actress” category.
Ann Blyth
Ann Blyth was a renowned actress of Hollywood’s golden era, and her long career included roles in numerous films and television series. She was also a talented singer and performed songs in several of her movies. Her voice and acting talent made her one of the famous actresses of her time.
Rhonda Fleming
Rhonda Fleming is a prominent actress who became the first to portray the leading Bond girl in the James Bond film franchise.
Mary Pickford
Mary Pickford was one of the creators and founders of the “United Artists” studio in 1919. This studio was established by Mary Pickford, Charles Chaplin, Douglas Fairbanks, and D.W. Griffith with the aim of giving artists more control over the production and distribution of their films. This move had a significant impact on the Hollywood industry and strengthened the independence of actors and directors in creating cinematic works.
Rita Hayworth
Rita Hayworth is considered one of the most desirable actresses in Hollywood. During World War II, her images were applied to bombs dropped on enemy territories. Rita Hayworth became a symbol of American pop culture at that time, and her image was used as a propaganda tool in the war campaign.
Claudette Colbert
Claudette Colbert became the first actress to win an Oscar in the “Best Actress” category for a role in a comedy film. This happened in 1935 for her role in the film “It Happened One Night”.
Barbara Stanwyck
Barbara Stanwyck began her career in cinema with small roles in silent films, but she later became one of the most influential actresses in Hollywood during the sound era. Her ability to adapt to different genres and portray diverse characters in films made her one of the most respected and popular actresses of her time. Her talent and professionalism were recognized by both critics and audiences, and she left an indelible mark on the history of Hollywood.
Judy Garland
Judy Garland is considered one of the greatest songstresses in the history of Hollywood and world music. Her unique voice and musical talent made her a legend. She became famous for her role as Dorothy in the classic film “The Wizard of Oz” and the song “Over the Rainbow”, which became her hit and won an Oscar for Best Original Song. Judy Garland left an indelible mark in the world of music and cinema.
