Old Hollywood Inspiration: Betty Grable

Betty Grable was born in 1916 in St. Louis, Missouri.

At age 13 her mother sent her to Hollwood in the hopes she would be become a movie star. She got bit parts on several movies thoroughout the early 1930s, and in 1932 signed with RKO Pictures.

She married for the first time in 1937 to fellow child star Jackie Coogan, which boosted her career. They divorced 3 years later but the public started to take notice of her, and in 1940 she starred in her first hit 'Down Argentine Way'.

After a series of hit films, she became the ultimate 'pin-up' girl to boost moral to the troops serving in World War 2, which gave her the title of being the highest paid actress in Hollywood at that time.

Most famously 20th Century Fox who held her contract insured her legs with Lloyds of London for $1 million!

During the 1950's she stayed very popular, starring in mainly musicals, but as these films declined so did her career. After 1955 she concentrated on starring in broadway shows and nightclubs until her death in 1973 from cancer.

All images sourced through google

Old Hollywood Inspiration: Vivien Leigh

Vivien Leigh was born in Darjeeling, India in 1913 during the British reign. At age 6 her parents returned to the UK to give Vivien a convent education.

At the end of her education she pursued her ambition to be an actress. She featured in many British films such as 'The Village Squire', 'Things Are Looking Up' & 'Look Up & Laugh'.

In 1938 she went to the US to visit her lover Laurence Olivier, and while there she auditioned for the much coveted role of 'Scarlett O'Hara' for the feature film 'Gone With The Wind'. As we know now she got the part and it won her the 'Best Actress' Oscar.

In 1941 Leigh & Olivier married and starred together in 'That Hamilton Woman'.

Leighs personal life suffered after this time during which she had several miscarriages, contracted tuberculosis, and was diagnosed with manic depression.

In 1951 she starred in her second Oscar winning performance as 'Blanche DuBois' in 'A Streetcar Named Desire' opposite Marlon Brando. 

In 1960 Olivier left Vivien to marry Joan Plowright, and in 1967 Leigh died after contracting tuberculosis once again.



Old Hollywood Inspiration: Jean Harlow

Jean Harlow was born in 1911 in Kansas City, to a successful dentist and his wife.

She ran away from home at age 16 and married a young businessman. They set up home in Los Angeles where Harlow got work as an extra on movie sets. After two years, many smalls roles & bit parts, and a divorce under her belt Harlow got her big break in Howards Hughes's 'Hells Angels' in 1930.

After this she starred in such films as 'Platinum Blonde', 'Red Dust', 'Dinner At Eight' & 'Blonde Bombshell'.

Her most successful films were with which she was paired with Clark Gable (6 in total), her last being 'Saratoga' in 1937. During filming she contracted uremic poisoning which took her life at age 26.



Old Hollywood Inspiration: Natalie Wood

Natalie Wood was born in 1938 in San Francisco, and is of Russian Decent.

She was a child movie star appearing in her first feature film in 1943, however she only appeared on screen for a matter of seconds. In 1946 she was cast in 'Tomorrow is Forever' opposite Orson Welles, however it would be her next film that cemented Wood in feature film history.

In 1947 she was cast in 'Miracle on 34th Street' as 'Susan Walker' which is arguably one of the most loved Christmas films of all time.

Her film career was quite successful throughout her childhood and at age 16 she had her 'big break' starring in 'Rebel Without A Cause' opposite the legendary James Dean. This film awarded her her first oscar nomination for 'Best Supporting Actress'.

In her personal life she dated many famous older men including Dennis Hopper & Elvis Presley, but married Robert Wagner when she was 18. During this time her career hit a few road bumps, with a string of box office flops.

Until 1961 when 'Splendour In The Grass' became a hit for her & Warren Beatty. Wagner & Wood later divorced in 1962 and she started a relationship with Beatty. Another huge hit for Wood was of course 'West Side Story' in 1961, which tells the tale of two rival gangs and a pair of familiar star-crossed lovers.

When 1966 came around Wood had a 3 year break from acting due to stresses in her personal life and an attempted suicide. After this period she married Robert Wagner once again and gave birth to 2 daughters (1 from a previous relationship). Her career was relatively quiet as she chose to concentrate on motherhood, however did make several TV appearances.

Her death in 1981 is surrounded in much mystery & controversy, and has quite famously been re-opened in 2011 due to new evidence. All we know for sure is that Natalie Wood died in tragic circumstances, and was taken from us much too early at the age of 43.

Old Hollywood Inspiration: Katharine Hepburn

Born in May 1907 in Connecticut, Katharine Hepburn is well known as one of the finest actresses that have ever lived.

She was the daughter of a suffragette, who was encouraged throughout childhood to speak her mind, as well as develop it and her body fully, which in result formed her into quite an athletic tomboy.

After the death of her brother at age 14, she became quite shy and in turn was home schooled.

After deciding to become an actress, Hepburn appeared in many plays in small roles until her big break in 1932 when she starred in 'A Bill of Divorcement' opposite John Barrymore. She went on to have a successful career with films such as 'Morning Glory', 'Little Women', 'Alice Adams', 'Bringing up Baby', 'The Philidelphia Story', and 'The African Queen'.

Hepburn was also a little notorious for her off-screen behaviour too. She chose to wear trousers and no make-up rather than play the 'hollywood game', she didn't like having pictures taken or giving interviews.

Over the course of her acting career she gathered 12 Oscar nominations, out of which she won 4.

In her personal life, most people would know her (thanks to the film 'The Aviator') as having a volatile relationship with Howard Hughes, whom she eventually left in order to be with Spencer Tracy.

Hepburn & Tracy never married but stayed together until his death in 1967.

After Tracy's death Hepburn continued to make mainly made for TV movies throughout the 70's & 80's and then retired due to her failing health.

She died in 2003 of natural causes.

Old Hollywood Inspiration Pt.4 Barbara Stanwyck

Barbara Stanwyck is a relatively new actress to me, after purchasing a film noir boxset and watching 'Double Idemnity' I instantly warmed to her. I found myself glued to the screen when she was in a scene, which goes to prove why she is a highly regarded actress.

She was also one of the most beloved by her peers and directors alike due to her compassion and genuine interest in their well being.

She was married  twice, but after her second marriage failed due to infidelity on his part (with Lana Turner) she never remarried, although she did have a 4 year affair with a young Robert Wagner.

After her film career ended, she went on to have a successful career on television appearing in various dramas and soap operas until her death in 1990.