Famous American actors of the 20th century. The most beautiful actresses in the world of all time
Great and famous. They are still remembered today.
Vivien Leigh
November 5 would have been the 100th anniversary of the great actress, beautiful woman and sex symbol of the 20th century, Vivien Leigh. The secret of the world cinema star's attractiveness lies in the mixture of English, Irish and Oriental blood. Her extraordinary beauty allowed her to become one of the main symbols of her generation, and her undoubted dramatic talent made her perhaps the best actress of the 20th century.
Thin, graceful, with regular facial features and aristocratic manners, Vivien Leigh was considered the standard of beauty of the 30-40s of the XX century. She played masterfully, but got used to each role so much that it affected her health: Lee experienced several nervous breakdowns and suffered from manic depression.
Vivien embodied on the screen a variety of images that became iconic: Lady Hamilton, Cleopatra, Anna Karenina, Ophelia, Juliet, Lady Macbeth and legendary Scarlett O'Hara ( it was this role that brought Vivien Leigh worldwide fame and the first Oscar for Best Actress).
In general, the 20th century cannot be compared with any other period in the history of Hollywood. Talented actresses and the fatal beauties of their century, just like Vivien Leigh, will forever remain in the memory of many people. Equally blinding men with their beauty, they had different attitudes towards this natural wealth. Each of the actresses is a separate story that requires careful reading. FashionTime.ru talks about 14 more legendary symbols of his era, about the most beautiful actresses of the 20th century.
Grace Kelly
Actress Grace Kelly has become a real standard of aristocratic chic, grace and cold dignity. Besides brilliant career in Hollywood, the status of the greatest and most terrible muse Alfred Hitchcock and an Oscar for her role in the film “The Country Girl” in 1955, Grace made every girl’s wildest dream come true, becoming a real princess. 
Her many affairs are legendary, but she was married only once. In 1956 Grace Kelly became a wife Prince Rainier II and legitimate princess of Monaco. Having left her career for the sake of her family, she never ceased to delight fans with her unique elegant style and truly royal charm. 
Grace Kelly, outwardly cold and unapproachable, captivated with her classic beauty and manners, impeccable sense of style, elegance and ability to behave with the dignity of a real queen.
Sophia Loren
Sophia Loren is a legendary actress and singer who gained fame after the release of the film " Chochara" With Jean-Paul Belmondo(Oscar Award for Best Actress). She is not only a dramatic and comedic actress, but also the embodiment of Italian passion and beauty, a canonical Mediterranean beauty, the muse of great directors and the idol of millions of men. Large, expressive facial features, far from the classical Hollywood canons and revealing the southern temperament of the actress, have become an ideal for the main filmmakers of our time. 
In world cinema, Sofia is famous not only for her exceptional bright appearance and acting talent, but also for her boundless wisdom and wit. Despite the crowds of fans around the world, Lauren remained faithful to her only husband, an Italian producer, all her life Carlo Ponti. Sophia Loren she is aging amazingly gracefully, and her appearance is in demand even now - at the age of 72 she posed for a calendar Pirelli.
Marilyn Monroe
Marilyn Monroe- without exaggeration, not only the most famous blonde in history, but also the main sex symbol of all times.
The former pin-up girl model becomes a star after the film Niagara. Monroe enchanted with her attractiveness and disarming femininity - no flirting or riddles, no hints or undertones. Marilyn's eroticism was looking for a way out on screen and in life - presidents and athletes, actors and producers could not resist her charms, and directors hypnotized the audience with tricks unheard of at that time: in one film, the hem of her skirt is lifted by jets of air from the ventilation grill, in another it bursts the strap of her dress... 
Light, light, attractive, vicious and innocent at the same time, Monroe became the founder of the role of the “classic blonde” - infantile, sensual, without pretensions to intellectuality, cultivating the ideology “ Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend». 
Marlene Dietrich
Marlene Dietrich - American actress German origin, who created one of the most recognizable female images in history - the image of a sexy, nervous, androgynous, femme fatale, who combines deliberate rudeness and indescribable femininity in a bizarre and harmonious way. World fame and an invitation to Hollywood brought the actress a role in the film “ Blue Angel", where she played a cabaret dancer. 
Marlene Dietrich - the first Femme Fatale cinema, the first woman who began to openly use elements of men's wardrobe and accessories when creating her unique style. Thin raised eyebrows, a languid look, a long cigarette in thin fingers- this image will forever remain Dietrich’s signature shot. 
Marlene was married once, remaining officially married until the end of her husband's life Rudolf Sieber. And yet, the whole world knew about her dizzying romances with the most influential men of the era. A painful and difficult relationship connected the actress with famous writer Remarque, and a passionate affair with Jean Gabenot m entered the history of the greatest novels of the twentieth century.
Audrey Hepburn
Audrey Hepburn- one of the most popular actresses of the 50-60s of the XX century, a style icon, whose image became the personification of femininity, restraint and elegance. She created many striking images - Sabrina, Eliza Doolittle, Sister Luke— but Hepburn’s main success was the role Holly Golightly in the film adaptation of the novel Truman Capote's Breakfast at Tiffany's. A black dress, a string of pearls and a high hairstyle - the legendary image of the actress has been quoted and interpreted more than once by designers and directors. 
She was completely different from the main film stars of those times, but at the same time she was able to win over both directors and millions of viewers around the world with her grace and aristocratic beauty. Fragile and graceful, an eternal woman-child with a naive look, she captivated with her softness and openness. Audrey was the permanent muse of the legendary Hubert de Givenchy, who created his elegant collections and fragrances especially for her. 
Ava Gardner
Ava Gardner- one of brightest stars Hollywood of the 40-50s of the XX century, incomparable beauty and a woman of incredible temperament. 
The peak of her career was leading roles in films The Snows of Kilimanjaro with Gregory Peck (1952) and Mogambo with Clark Gable (1953). But the public was more concerned about the actress’s personal life - Gardner was a constant heroine of gossip columns of the time, where she appeared as a sex symbol. 
Hot brunette with cat eyes, she was famous for her magnetic effect on men. Myself Hemingway called her his muse and favorite actress. Willful and unbridled, she was married several times and had a dizzying affair with a multimillionaire Howard Hughes and became the love of the singer’s life Frank Sinatra. "I have got you under my skin"- these words of the famous song Frank Sinatra wrote it down in one breath late at night, dying of love for the woman he idolized. It was he who paid all her bills for the rest of her life - even when their paths diverged.
Elizabeth Taylor
Elizabeth Taylor- a true Hollywood legend, one of the most famous actresses of all times. A striking brunette with delicate features and famous violet eyes, she was considered not only one of the most beautiful women of the twentieth century, but also a good dramatic actress - Taylor was twice awarded the Oscar for Best Actress in a Film "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" And "Butterfield 8". In addition, she became the first global star whose fee was $1 million. At that time, this was not just an absolute record, but confirmation that the stars had turned into celestial beings. 
In total, the actress played in more than sixty films, the most famous of which were "Cleopatra", "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" And "The Taming of the Shrew". One of the main topics of the 20th century tabloids was the legendary story of her relationship with the British actor. Richard Burton- this love couple became the first classic celebrities with sky-high raiders and millions in fees, quarrels and fights, as well as paparazzi covering their every step. 
In total, Taylor was married 8 times and had the most impressive collection of jewelry in the world - a leading auction house, after the actress’s death in 2011, sold the star’s diamonds for fabulous money.
Jane Russell
Jane Russell- Hollywood actress, included in the list of sex symbols of the generation of the 40s of the XX century. Her striking appearance - black curly hair, a stunning figure, expressive large eyes and winged eyebrows - provided the girl with instant success, which followed Russell from the very beginning of her career until its end in the 70s. 
Glory fell on Jane Russell after signing a seven-year contract with an American millionaire Howard Hughes, who actively began to sculpt a 19-year-old beauty future star Hollywood. Hughes loved to film Russell in scenes that were explicit at the time and were prohibited from being shown. By the mid-40s, the actress gave serious competition to two recognized Hollywood sex bombs - Rita Hayworth And Lana Turner. Russell's role in the film "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" by Bonnie Jones became a turning point in the fate of the actress. It was in this picture that Jane encountered Marilyn Monroe, which subsequently supplanted Russell from the pedestal of the most desirable woman in Hollywood. 
Lana Turner
Lana Turner- classic Hollywood superstar, glamorous blonde, sex symbol of the 40s generation. A difficult childhood in an orphanage, dancing in nightclubs, and the struggle for survival subsequently affected her lifestyle. At the age of 16, Lana began acting in films, and by the age of 20 she became one of the main actresses in Hollywood. She was the favorite star of American soldiers: it was her photographs that decorated the barracks during World War II. 
Fame came to Lana after participating in the classic noir film "The postman always rings twice". After this, Turner became a constant and beloved partner Clark Gable. Her open, slightly aggressive sexuality, which the girl skillfully emphasized, made her the main rival of the US favorite Rita Hayworth. Temperamental, passionate Turner was married 8 times. Among her many spouses is the legendary jazzman, millionaire, actor and hypnotist. 
Lauren Bacall
Lauren Bacall- a true example of American beauty: an impeccable strong-willed brown-haired woman with a predatory look, strong, but at the same time feminine and passionate. She is one of the favorite actresses not only of Americans, but of the entire world community, since she is truly the last living legend. 
Lauren became the main face of noir films of the 40s and the screen partner of all the great filmmakers of that time - John Wayne, Gary Cooper, Kirk Douglas, Gregory Peck and, of course, Humphrey Bogart, with whom they starred in four famous films - "To have and not to have»
, "Deep Sleep", "Dark Line" And "Key Largo". In addition, Bacall is a true Broadway prima, having received two Tony Awards for best role in the musical. 
Her personal life has always been the object of close attention. One of greatest stories Hollywood love - a dizzying romance with an actor Humphrey Bogart, ended happy marriage, which lasted 12 years until the day of the actor’s death. Afterwards there was an engagement and a scandalous separation from Frank Sinatro th and marriage with Jason Robarts.
A legend of Hollywood's golden age, she has performed in over a hundred roles and still regularly appears on the big screen and provides voice-over work in films.
Rita Hayworth
Rita Hayworth- American actress who was called Hollywood's first sex bomb. Her name is on the list the most beautiful stars of all times.
The daughter of a professional dancer, she began her career at the age of 12, her career flourished in the 40s of the 20th century. The most important role of the red-haired beauty Hayworth became "Gilda" from the film of the same name Charles Vidor. The scene where her heroine slowly pulls off a long glove from her thin hand is considered the most erotic in the history of old Hollywood. By the way, the pseudonym Rita Hayworth was invented by the actress’s first husband - her real name was typically Spanish Margarita Carmen Cansino. By the way, Rita was married several times - in particular, to the brilliant Orson Welles, and her last companion was the prince Ali Khan, from whom the actress had a daughter, Princess Yasmin.
Veronica Lake
Veronica Lake- American actress who came to conquer Hollywood after winning a beauty contest in Brooklyn. Her career was short-lived, but one of the brightest in Hollywood. In cinema, Lake gained fame thanks to the films "Sullivan's Travels", "Weapons for Hire" And "Glass Key". Veronica became the embodiment of American beauty - a dazzling blonde, sexy and mysterious, and at the same time, as befits the “queen of noir,” incredibly dual: behind the external fragility hid the powerful energy of a strong and dangerous woman.
Her image of a sexy blonde with long hair, covering one eye, was so remembered by the audience that it is she who is considered to be the founder of the fashion for asymmetrical hairstyles.
But her star set as quickly as it rose. Several divorces, endless scandals with film studio bosses, problems with alcohol - all this put an end to her career. Veronica Lake died on July 7, 1973 from hepatitis and kidney failure caused by alcoholism, at the age of 50. For her contribution to the development of the film industry, the actress was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In 1997 Kim Basinger won an Oscar for her role in the film "LA Confidential"- she played a heroine whose image was copied in detail from Veronica Lake.
Catherine Deneuve
World fame of the Frenchwoman Catherine Deneuve started with participation in the film " Cherbourg umbrellas“The triumph of the film made her one of the main stars of the 60s. Having abandoned her career in Hollywood, Deneuve did not suffer at all from a lack of roles - during her life she took part in more than a hundred films and created vivid images, which are still examples of acting skills. One of her iconic roles was working in psychological thriller Roman Polanski's "Disgust"- here Deneuve's dramatic talent removed all questions as to whether the blonde beauty was a serious actress.
Catherine is the embodiment French charm and one of the leading European actresses of the 20th century, consistently included in lists of the most beautiful women in the world. A charming blonde with perfect facial features and a sad look has long been the face of the legendary fragrance Chanel No.5 and the muse of the great couturier Yves Saint Laurent, who appreciated her external restraint and coldness, melting inside a real volcano of passions. 
Secretive and mysterious, Deneuve belongs to an absolutely non-demonstrative personality type, and her external coldness and aristocracy have become business card beauties. 
To this day, 70-year-old Katrin is in demand in her profession and continues to be active in public life.
In my Top 12 most beautiful actors of old Hollywood entered Hollywood actors the first and early second half of the 20th century, who starred in films and became heroes of their time. You can also check out the ratings: The Most Beautiful Actresses of Old Hollywood and The Most Beautiful Modern Hollywood Actresses.
12. Montgomery Clift / Montgomery Clift(October 17, 1920 - July 23, 1966) - American actor, one of the first Hollywood sex symbols - adherents of the Stanislavsky system(along with Marlon Brando and James Dean). His films: “Red River”, “The Search”, “A Place in the Sun”, “From Here to Eternity”, “Raintree County”, “Lonely Hearts Club”, “The Young Lions”, “Nuremberg Trials”.
11.Clark Gable(February 1, 1901 – November 16, 1960) - American actor, film star and sex symbol of the 1930s and 1940s, nicknamed "King of Hollywood". Oscar winner. Films with his participation: “Mogambo”, “Lone Star”, “Somewhere I’ll Find You”, “They Met in Bombay”, “Gone with the Wind”, “Wife Against the Secretary”, “It Happened One Night”, “Red dust" etc.
10. Tony Curtis / Tony Curtis(real name Bernard Schwartz; June 3, 1925 - September 29, 2010) - American actor who enjoyed wide popularity in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Curtis's portrayal in early films was designed to appeal to an audience of teenage girls. His hairstyle became so fashionable that Elvis Presley himself imitated it. Films with his participation: “Sweet Smell of Success”, “Those Who Never Bowed Their Heads”, “Vikings”, “Spartacus”, “Taras Bulba”, “Only Girls in Jazz”, etc.
9. Laurence Olivier(22 May 1907 - 11 July 1989) - British theater and film actor, director, producer. One of the greatest actors of the 20th century, whose repertoire included both ancient drama and the works of Shakespeare, as well as modern American and British plays. Winner of an Oscar (for the film Hamlet), a Golden Globe award (twice), a BAFTA award (twice) and almost 40 other film awards. Films with his participation: “Wuthering Heights”, “21 Days”, “Rebecca”, “Pride and Prejudice”, “Lady Hamilton”, “49th Parallel”, “Betsy” and many others. etc.
8. Paul Newman / Paul Newman(January 26, 1925 – September 26, 2008) was an American actor, director, and producer. called one of the pillars of Hollywood and the owner of the most famous blue eyes in the history of cinema. Nominated ten times for an Oscar, of them eight - in the nomination for Best Actor. Films with his participation: “Someone in Heaven Loves Me”, “The Long Hot Summer”, “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof”, “The Rascals”, “Hud”, “Cool Hand Luke”, “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid”, “ The color of money" etc.
7. James Stewart(May 20, 1908 - July 2, 1997) - American film actor, who is famous primarily for the fact that over half a century he created an extensive gallery of the “little people” of big America, but besides this, thanks to his wide emotional range, he left a noticeable mark on a huge number of genres: comedies, dramas, melodramas, detective stories, biographical films, thrillers, westerns. His films: “You Can’t Take It With You,” “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington,” “The Philadelphia Story,” “This wonderful Life", "Winchester-73", "Flight of the Phoenix", etc.
6. Marlon Brando / Marlon Brando(April 3, 1924 – July 1, 2004) was an American actor and political activist. Twice Oscar winner (for which he was nominated for a total of eight times), two-time winner Golden Globe Awards, three-time winner BAFTA Award, Emmy Award winner. He is best known for his roles in the films “Savage,” “A Streetcar Named Desire,” “On the Waterfront,” “The Godfather,” “Last Tango in Paris,” “Superman,” “Apocalypse Now” and “Don Juan de Marco.”
5. Robert Taylor(real name Spangler Arlington Brough; August 5, 1911 - June 8, 1969) - the most popular American film and television actor, one of the most notable actors of his time. Films with his participation: "Camilla" ("The Lady of the Camellias"), "The Crowd Roars", "Three Comrades", "Waterloo Bridge", "Song of Russia", "Ivanhoe", "Quentin Dorward".
4. Sean Connery / Sean Connery(b. 25 August 1930, Edinburgh) - Scottish film actor and producer. Oscar winner two-time winner BAFTA awards three-time winner Golden Globe Awards. He worked in theater and television. He starred in more than 70 films, including seven film adaptations of Ian Fleming's works, where Sean Connery plays the main role - James Bond. According to a survey conducted by People magazine in 1989, he was named the sexiest man alive, and in 1999 the same magazine called it sexiest man of the century. In 2004, Empire magazine also conducted a survey according to which Sean Connery also made it into the top 100 sexiest movie stars in cinema history. Agent 007, played by Sean Connery, is considered the best Bond ever played. His other films: Murder on the Orient Express, The Red Tent, A Bridge Too Far, Outland, Highlander, The Name of the Rose, The Untouchables, Finding Forrester.
3. Gary Cooper(May 7, 1901 - May 13, 1961) - American actor, played in hundreds of films, who received two Oscars for Best Actor and an honorary Oscar for his overall contribution to the development of American cinema. The first sound film with his participation after silent films was “The Virginian”. In this film, the actor delivered his lines in a spare, abrupt manner, which later became his distinctive feature. During the 1930s he starred in Westerns and adventure films, competing with Clark Gable for the title of Hollywood's first womanizer. Films with his participation: “The Deeds and Days of the Bengal Lancer”, “The Adventures of Marco Polo”, “Sergeant York”, “For Whom the Bell Tolls”, “The Pride of the Yankees”, “High Noon”.
2. Gregory Peck(April 5, 1916 - June 12, 2003) - American actor, one of the most sought-after Hollywood stars of the 1940s-1960s. Winner of the Oscar for Best Actor for his role as Atticus Finch in the drama To Kill a Mockingbird. During his fifty years in filmmaking, Peck appeared in more than fifty films. He was nominated for an Oscar several times, but only once did he manage to receive the coveted statuette.. In 1999 ranked twelfth in the list of 100 greatest stars cinema according to the American Film Institute. Films with his participation: “Days of Glory”, “Keys of the Kingdom”, “Fawn”, “Yellow Sky”, “The Big Sinner”, “The Snows of Kilimanjaro”, “Roman Holiday”, “Big Country”, “Twelve O’Clock Up” , “Guns of Navarone Island”, “Scarlet and Black”, etc.
1. Cary Grant(real name Archibald Alexander Leach; January 18, 1904 - November 29, 1986) - English-American actor who became the embodiment of constant wit, equanimity and composure. Known for leading roles in burlesque comedies, especially pre-war ones, and in Alfred Hitchcock's films. The American Film Institute recognized him as the greatest film actor in Hollywood history since Humphrey Bogart.. Films with his participation: “She Treated Him Unfairly”, “I’m No Angel”, “The Philadelphia Story”, “Only a Lonely Heart”, “Suspicion”, “Notorious”, “To Catch a Thief”, “North by North” West", "Charade", "Walk, Don't Run". In the 1960s, K. Grant remained one of the highest paid actors in Hollywood. In 1970, the American Academy of Motion Pictures belatedly awarded him an honorary Oscar for “extraordinary artistry with the respect and gratitude of his colleagues.” Ian Fleming admitted that Grant served as one of the prototypes for agent 007, however, the actor refused to play him, citing his age.
His filmography includes such films as “The Godfather”, “Last Tango in Paris”, “Superman” and many, many others. Marlon Brando, one of the greatest actors of the 20th century, became famous almost immediately, without much preamble. Here was a devilish mixture of a divine gift, rare male beauty, grace of a predatory beast and... disgusting character. Possessing incredible talent, which, by and large, did not require polishing (Brando studied acting in private courses), Brando could infuriate anyone. His whole life was like an endless rebellion, although it was almost impossible to determine who or what the Hollywood star was rebelling against. Brando hated the “Dream Factory”, refused to act in films without any compelling reasons and... still remained everyone’s favorite. Yes, they were terribly afraid of him and endlessly adored him.
He ended his life completely alone, a terminally ill, ugly old man. And yet until last breath Having lost all his attractiveness, he continued to hate the world around him, and the main thing was to tell him about it.
Cary Grant
“Grant doesn’t need to be told how to play, he just needs to be put in front of the camera. He is so natural that you simply don’t notice the actor’s deception,” Hitchcock liked to repeat, who called Cary Grant his best actor. Grant spent his childhood in the dirty neighborhoods of Bristol, traveling with traveling theater as a mime actor, but always dreamed of more. In the 1930s, Hollywood was in dire need of new actors, since many stars of the 1920s were unable to adapt to sound films. This state of affairs in cinema became a real lucky chance for Carey - in 1931 he made his screen debut. Then, in just a year and a half, eight more films happened, he was noticed and loved. Grant's phenomenon was his irresistible sexual appeal. In the comedies of the 1930s, he created the image of the playboy long before the word itself came into use. His hero is the female ideal. He starred in such films as “The Philadelphia Story”, “Only the Lonely Heart”, “Suspicion”, “Notorious”, “To Catch a Thief”. Grant's last significant film was 1963's Charade. Gorgeous Detective story, diluted with a fair amount of humor. Audrey Hepburn played alongside Grant.
Laurence Olivier
Despite the fact that Olivier was not born in America, but in Great Britain, Hollywood still attracted greatest actor twentieth century into its arms. The full list of his screen works can be the envy of even any modern actor, including the films “Wuthering Heights”, “21 Days”, “Rebecca”, “Pride and Prejudice”, “Lady Hamilton”. By the way, it was on the set of Wuthering Heights that Lawrence met his future wife, the very muse that all artists are waiting for and looking for. She became the then little-known artist Vivien Leigh. They lived together for 20 years, during which Vivienne transformed from an aspiring actress into a movie star suffering from serious illness and depression. Lawrence could not come to terms with Vivien's success, nor could he help cope with her mental disorder. Until the end of his life, Olivier was unable to forgive himself for Vivien’s betrayal. Olivier’s son said in an interview: “He watched the film “The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone” (a 1961 film starring Vivien Leigh), cried and endlessly repeated: “What went wrong?”
Clark Gable
Despite the fact that the first handsome man of Hollywood has about seventy films in his track record, for many of us he remained an actor of one role, because it was he who played Rhett Butler in the cult film “Gone with the Wind.” The life of an actor was also sometimes exciting. romantic melodrama- a sea of fans, several marriages, tragic love. Clark was married five times, twice to women almost twice his age—it was necessary to make a career, and the provincial boy saw no other way. After his second marriage, which ended in a huge scandal, Clark fell in love with actress Carole Lombard, immediately proposed to her and would have been absolutely happy for the rest of his days if his beloved had not died in a plane crash. After the death of his wife, Gable led a reclusive life, unexpectedly went to the front, and after returning he married again. The fourth and fifth wives were exactly like Carol. Gable was never able to forget his beloved for the rest of his life. He is buried in the tomb of his third wife.
Montgomery Clift
Oh, these men! Montgomery Clift is one of the first sex symbols of Hollywood and, by the way, an adherent of the Stanislavsky system, an extraordinary handsome man, handsome according to all the classical canons, such men can only be put on a shelf and admired, or, in extreme cases, watched films again and again with their participation. Born in 1920, he has a huge number of films to his credit, including Raintree County, Lonely Hearts Club, The Young Lions, four Oscar nominations and tragic fate, much more like an exciting film.
Since the 50s, Montgomery Clift has been considered the most sought-after actor in Hollywood. At that time, only the brilliant Marlon Brando could compete with him. Elizabeth Taylor once noted: “Monty might have become the most a big star in the world of cinema, if only he had acted more.” Indeed, the actor was very picky in his roles - he refused many projects for personal reasons. At the height of his career, Montgomery was involved in a terrible accident that ruined his entire life. Until the end of his days, Clift drank constantly, skipped filming, which became less and less, and died at the age of 45. Robert Lewis called his post-traumatic career "the longest suicide in the history of Hollywood."
Tony Curtis
To some extent, Tony Curtis - clear example that everyone can be lucky. The son of a Jewish tailor who emigrated to America from Austria, a boy from the Bronx who started out as a small robber in a gang of street punks, he - then still Bernard Schwartz - could consider his handsome face and innate charm to be the only capital given to him by nature. Tony Curtis, born in 1925, always knew he wanted to be an actor. Girls loved him passionately, and Elvis Presley himself imitated his hairstyle. Yes, that same legendary haircut is the innovation of the inimitable Tony. Curtis starred in such films as “Some Like It Hot”, “Pride and Prejudice”, “Lady Hamilton”, “49th Parallel” and many others designed not only for an adult viewer, but also for enthusiastic teenage girls, because they were the main audience for the charming Tony.
Paul Newman
His fame in America began in the 50s in the theater and on television. Paul Newman's famous film works included roles in the films “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof,” “Exodus,” “Wrath,” “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.” Paul Newman was nominated for an Oscar ten times and won it in 1987 for The Color of Money. In addition to acting, Newman mastered another profession almost until the end of his life - the star of American westerns passionately dreamed of being a racing driver. He was literally sick of cars, competitions, and in 1982 Newman became a co-owner of the Newman-Haas Racing team. At the same time, he founded a food line, Newman's Own, specializing in salads and sauces; this business brought him more than $100 million.
In addition, Nman often acted as a director, producer and co-producer of films, remaining an enterprising, active and, of course, incredibly handsome man until the end of his life.
Gregory Peck
Gregory Peck and Audrey Hepburn - this couple is familiar to every film fan. "Roman Holiday" - the most romantic story love. Eldred Gregory Peck was born on April 5, 1916 in the small town of La Jolla, was brought up in strictness, and therefore Gregory’s decision to become an actor literally plunged the family into despair. But he was firm. On Broadway, Mr. Peck was not too happy either, but the future idol of millions was not going to deviate from his intended goal! During his fifty years in filmmaking, Peck appeared in more than fifty films. He was nominated for an Oscar several times, but only once did he manage to receive the coveted statuette. In 1999, the actor took twelfth place on the list of the 100 greatest movie stars according to the American Film Institute. In addition to “Roman Holiday,” his filmography includes such film works as “The Snows of Kilimanjaro” and “To Kill a Mockingbird,” for his role in the latter Gregory was awarded the most important cinematic award.
Peter O'Toole
Peter O'Toole was born a little later than his legendary colleagues, but, nevertheless, it is impossible not to say about him! Chiseled facial features, an ideal nose shape, a soulful, seemingly enveloping gaze. World fame came to him in 1962, when director David Lean invited him to play the leading role in the film Lawrence of Arabia, dedicated to the life of a British officer who played a significant role in organizing the Arab uprising against Ottoman Empire. After another 4 years - new success - the main role in the comedy How to Steal a Million, opposite Audrey Hepburn. O’Toole acted a lot and, in general, was more successful than many of his predecessors - he was in demand until the very end (the actor died in December 2013, at 81, when two new films with his participation were still being edited). He managed to accomplish the almost impossible: recover from stomach cancer, get rid of alcohol addiction on his own and continue to live despite any obstacles. In his family life, Peter can also hardly be called unhappy - he lived in marriage for twenty years, did not deny himself anything and, it seems, was a completely happy person.
July 4, 2015 would have been the 105th birthday of legendary Hollywood actress Gloria Stewart.
She passed away 5 years ago, but with her roles (albeit small ones), Gloria delighted audiences until she was very old, not counting the thirty-year break in her film career. Many directors admired Stewart’s beauty, and men were ready to lay the whole world at her feet. In honor of the actress's birthday, we decided to remember other beautiful Hollywood actresses of the past.
Let's continue a short story about the birthday girl. She was born in Santa Monica and has appeared in more than 80 films over her 70-year career. At the beginning of her acting career, Gloria worked at the Pasadena Theater, and at the age of 22 she signed a contract with Universal Studios. Directors dreamed of getting this bright blonde in their films, but Gloria was selective. True, her career at Universal Studios progressed at a slow pace and the actress moved to 20th Century Fox. The most successful films with Stewart’s participation are considered to be “Roman Scandals”, “The Invisible Man”, “Prisoner of Shark Island”, “Poor Little Rich Girl”, “The Three Musketeers”, “The Waltons”, “Wild Cats”, “Touched by an Angel” " etc.
Despite active work in her youth, recognition, peak popularity, Oscar and Golden Globe nominations came to the actress at the age of 86, when Gloria starred in the legendary Titanic, where she played the aged Rose. Interestingly, during a break from acting, Stewart took up painting seriously. Her work was even shown in a prestigious New York gallery at the Hammer.
This spectacular blonde is still adored by all of Hollywood, songs are sung about her, books are written, films are made, and actresses do their best to copy her image. Norma Jean Dougherty (the real name of the Hollywood diva) was born in Los Angeles to an ordinary film editor. Marilyn's career began at the film studio "20th Century Fox", where she was hired as an extra (she was immediately advised to change her name), with a small role in the film "The Terrible Miss Pilgrim" and grew every year. Surely, many have watched such films with Monroe as “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes”, “We Are Not Married!”, “Monkey’s Labor”, “The Seven Year Itch”, “Bus Stop”, “Some Like It Hot” and “The Misfits” .
It was thanks to her charm, charm and ability to make the right acquaintances that Marilyn Monroe became a true legend and still remains an immortal sex symbol of Hollywood.
Despite her influential patrons, the actress died at the age of 36 (but she could have delighted viewers with her first-class roles for a long time).
The two-time Oscar winner and performer of the role of Scarlett O'Hara in the film adaptation of Gone with the Wind was famous for her difficult temper. It was all about her manic depression.
At the same time, many directors dreamed of working with her. Vivien’s film debut was the film “Look and Smile,” and in total the actress starred in 21 films, the most memorable of which were “Gloomy Journey,” “St. Martin’s Lane,” “Twenty-One Days,” “Lady Hamilton,” “Anna.” Karenina", "A Streetcar Named Desire", "Ship of Fools". Men went crazy from her beauty, but she gave her heart to Laurence Olivier (whom, however, she divorced, but kept friendly relations until the end of days).
Vivienne died at the age of 53 from another attack of tuberculosis. No wonder, because the actress was a heavy smoker and could smoke several packs of cigarettes a day.
Rita was one of the most famous stars Hollywood of the 40s of the last century. She was born into the family of a flamenco dancer and a chorus girl, so it is not surprising that the girl decided to connect her life with art (albeit cinematic). Rita's first roles were almost unnoticeable, but the film “Only Angels Have Wings” did its job. The actress was noticed.
Her filmography includes more than 50 diverse roles, and in her personal life she has changed many men (you don’t need to go far, Rita suffered 5 divorces). The most famous paintings with Hayworth's participation were “Music in My Heart”, “Blonde on a Budget”, “Strawberry Blonde”, “My Girl Sal”, “Cover Girl”, “Gilda”, “Carmen”, “Miss Sadie Thompson”, “The World” circus", "Naked Zoo", etc. She played her characters in such a way that the audience believed in her experiences on screen.
Rita's efforts were not in vain - she was included in the list of the 100 greatest movie stars according to the American Film Institute.
A native Parisian who was lucky enough to be born into the family of a major entrepreneur. Since childhood, Brigitte has been dancing and even studied at the National Academy of Dance.
The girl began her journey into show business with a modeling career, but after meeting Roger Vadim, who approved her for a role in his new film, she seriously thought about acting. It is known that Brigitte was the standard of beauty for young John Lennon, who dedicated several songs to her.
Bardot's film debut was the film "The Normandy Hole", and in total the actress starred in 40 films. I would especially like to note her performance in “An Act of Love”, “Street Light”, “Oh That Girl!”, “...And God Created Woman”, “A Woman of Paris”, “Babette Goes to War”, “Famous Love Stories” , “Viva, Maria!”, “Shalako”, “Rum Boulevard”, etc.
In 1973, Brigitte announced her retirement from cinema to devote herself to politics and animal welfare. The actress is currently married to Bernard d'Ormal, continues to protect animals and has no regrets.
The charming princess of Monaco, who ended her acting career for Rainier III.
Her filmography includes only 11 roles, but she can rightfully be called one of the most beautiful actresses of old Hollywood. At first, Grace worked as a model and at the same time studied acting at the New York Academy dramatic art. The first castings were not successful, but in 1951 the girl managed to get herself a cameo role in the thriller “Fourteen Hours.” In total, Grace Kelly played in 11 films, including “High Noon”, “Dial M for Murder”, “The Country Girl”, “Rear Window”, “To Catch a Thief”, etc.
Audrey's pretty face and talent made her one of the most sought-after, highly paid, desirable and successful actresses of the 50s of the last century. After the end of the war, the actress and her mother worked as a nurse at a veterans hospital. At the same time, she took ballet lessons.
Audrey's film debut was the educational film "Dutch in Seven Lessons", where she played the cameo role of a flight attendant. During her acting career, Hepburn played in 32 films, among which I especially want to mention “Roman Holiday”, “Sabrina”, “War and Peace”, “Funny Face”, “Unforgiven”, “Breakfast at Tiffany’s”, “My wonderful lady", "How to Steal a Million", "Charade", "Robin and Marian", "They All Laughed."
Audrey Hepburn captivated many men with her beauty and was married three times. The actress died in 1993 from colon cancer surrounded by close people.
Svetlana Misnik(born December 16, 1992) - life-style journalist, a philosopher by primary education, and a lawyer by secondary education. Since the age of 15, he has been writing for Kleo.ru, Wmj.ru, Cosmo.ru, MarieClaire.ru about psychology, celebrities and beauty.. He values honesty in people, his favorite pastime is watching a good movie, and his personal recipe for a good mood is a beach holiday .
In the 1930s, Hollywood became a virtual dream factory for millions of people. After all, during the difficult period of the Great Depression, cinema was the only entertainment they could afford. Spectators took seats in beautiful and spacious cinema halls and, from the first frame of the film, were immersed in a wonderful world, forgetting about their problems.
Hollywood stars instantly became role models. Women wanted to style their hair or sew a dress like their favorite actress. And men bought spectacular postcards that depicted popular film stars. Of course, behind the perfect images from the screens there is a whole film crew. But without talent and personal charm it is impossible to captivate the hearts of millions.
We offer you 20 photographs of magnificent artists of those years.
(Total 20 photos)
1. Judith Barrett (1909-2000)
A screen star who starred in leading female roles from the late 20s to the early 40s. Another creative pseudonym Judith - Nancy Dover.
2. Priscilla Lane (1915-1995)
The youngest of the Lane sisters, popular American film actresses in the 1930s, Priscilla had a good career in film. But in 1942 she got married, after which her acting career came to an end.
3. Alice White (1904-1983)
The debut of this actress with French and Italian roots took place in 1927. Over the next two decades, the actress starred in several dozen films, but gradually her career faded away and she returned to work as a secretary.
4. Ida Lupino (1918-1995)
British and American actress. Ayda became one of the first female directors in the history of cinema.
5. Francis Drake (1912-2000)
Having started her career as a dancer, Frances quickly moved to cinema, where she continued to successfully act in the period from 1933 to 1942. In February 1939, Drake married Lieutenant Cecil John Arthur Howard and soon retired from the screen.
6. Edna Callahan (1912-2007)
Popular Hollywood film actress of the 1930s.
7. Thelma Todd (1906-1935)
The winner of beauty contests, Thelma ended up in a big movie. She played mostly supporting roles, appearing in more than a hundred films. Thelma successfully made the transition from silent films to talkies, achieving great popularity in the early 1930s with a series of comedy films.
On the morning of December 16, 1935, Thelma Todd's body was found in her own car. Death was caused by carbon monoxide poisoning. There were rumors that the actress was killed by New York gangster Lucky Luciano because she refused to meet with him. There was also a rumor that her ex-husband Pat DiCicco was involved in her death.
8. Victoria Winton (1912-1980)
Film actress who became widely famous in the period 1932-1940.
9. Gail Patrick (1911-1980)
While studying at the university, she took part in a national selection at the Paramount Pictures studio, which ultimately led her to cinema. Her debut took place in 1933, and she achieved real success by the end of the decade, thanks to the roles of femme fatales, intriguers and villains in opposition to the main characters.
In 1948, after her third marriage, Patrick left filming. In 1957, together with her husband Cornwell Jackson, she became a producer of the popular TV series Perry Mason, which aired until 1966.
10. Alice Fay (1915-1998)
An actress and singer, Alice Fay made her Broadway debut in 1931 and three years later made her way to the movies when her musical was adapted into a film. This was followed by new successful film roles, where Faye performed not only as an actress, but also as a singer. Her career continued to develop successfully until 1944, when, after a conflict with management, she left the Fox studio. After 1945, Fay did not act in films for 17 years, appearing on screen only in 1962 in a small role in the film State Fair.
11. Rochelle Hudson (1916-1972)
Famous American actress who actively acted in films from the 1930s to the 1960s. The peak of his career came at the height of the Great Depression. She was married three times.
12. Sari Maritsa (1910-1987)
British actress who starred in popular films in the early 30s. She tried to make a career in Hollywood, but the public did not accept her warmly enough. The artist's career ended after her marriage in 1934.
13. Fay Wray (1907-2004)
She began acting in films in 1919. The peak of her career was marked by her performance as Ann Darrow in the film King Kong (1933), which made her one of the iconic characters in the history of popular cinema, “Kong Girl”. She stopped acting in films in 1942, after marrying screenwriter Robert Riskin. After Riskin's death in 1955, she returned to cinema for a while, but finally gave up her film career in 1958.
14. Karen Morley (1909-2003)
She began her acting career in a theater in Pasadena and immediately achieved serious success, playing roles in the films “Mata Hari” (1931), “Scarface” (1932) and other MGM films. In 1934, she left the studio and began acting less in leading roles. Her career finally collapsed in the late 1940s, when her involvement in the US Communist Party landed her on the Hollywood Blacklist. Subsequently, Karen Morley returned to filming only in the mid-1970s, playing several small roles on television.
15. Juliet Compton (1899-1989)
She began her career during the silent film era. She danced in the Ziegfield Follies show. She filmed first in Britain and then in the USA. The most famous sound film with her participation was the film “Lady Hamilton” (1941).
16. Bess Erhardt (1916-1975)
Bess starred in musicals and dramas and was famous for her ability to skate, including roller skating. The most famous film with her participation was “Ice Madness” (1939) about the life of figure skaters.
17. Amo Ingram (1909-1983)
A talented actress and dancer, Amo acted in films from the late 20s to the early 40s, but mostly she played small roles as chorus girls. She never married and lived out her remaining days in Santa Monica, California.
18. Pat Royal
Having started her career in the 20s, Patricia Royal acted until the late 30s.
19. Muriel Angelus (1909-2004)
Scottish-born Muriel Angelus began her stage career in London, where she became famous for her strong and beautiful voice. Having moved to the USA, the actress continued her journey into cinema and starred in a lot of films, the most significant of which were “The Lights Out” (1939) and “The Great McGinty” (1940). She left the world of cinema in the late 40s after marriage.
20. Joan Blondell (1906-1979)
During the Great Depression, Joan was one of the highest paid actresses in the United States. Starting from the 40s, she began to act less often and mostly in supporting roles. But at the same time she was nominated for an Oscar in 1951 and continued her career as an actress until the end of her life.
