Beautiful starlets have always graced the silver screen, and the audience of those films have always been enchanted by their beauty. While there are plenty of lovely ladies on the big screen nowadays, why not take a look back in time? Hollywood’s Golden Age (1915-1963) was filled with many talented actresses, and just as many were known for their great beauty.
Ursula Andress
All hail the world’s first Bond Girl! In ever 007 film, James Bond hooks up with an incredibly attractive woman, and Ursula Andress’ Vesper Lynd was the one that started the trend. Andress’ voice was actually dubbed over in the film, due to her Swiss-German accent, but they certainly didn’t need to do anything else to her. Later, she also began working for Playboy Magazine as a model.
Vivien Leigh
Vivien Leigh’s acting abilities were often overlooked because of how beautiful she was. Just look at those big, doe eyes and say you can’t get lost in them. She died in 1967 of tuberculosis, but she will live on through her films.
Sharon Tate
She was taken from the world all too soon. The rising starlet, whose career was cut short, will always be remembered for her beauty and talent.
Lauren Bacall
Lauren Bacall had stunning looks and a seductive voice to boot. She was even named the 20th greatest female star in classic Hollywood cinema. Sadly, Bacall passed away in 2014, just before her 90th birthday.
Barbara Eden
Barbara Eden’s most notable role was as Jeannie in the sitcom I Dream of Jeannie, wherein an astronaut finds the titular genie and falls in love with her. Eden remains a beloved personality, even today.
Anita Ekberg
Australian actress Margot Robbie is often compared to this beauty from the golden age. Anita Ekberg was a Swedish actress best known for portraying Sylvia in the Federico Fellini’s film, La Dolce Vita. Additionally, she was a model, competing in various shows from Miss Malmo to Miss Sweden. In 1951 she even ended up winning the Miss Universe crown. Unfortunately, she passed away in 2015 at the age of 83.
Natalie Wood
Born Natalia Nikolaevna Zakharenko to Russian immigrants, Natalie Wood was nominated for three Oscars before she had even turned 25. Tragically, she died at age 43, having fallen off a yacht during a trip to Santa Catalina and drowned.
Ava Gardner
Ava Gardner initially struggled to find mainstream success due to her heavy, Southern accent, but she finally got her big break with The Killers in 1946. She became a legendary figure in Hollywood, even marrying fellow legends Mickey Rooney and Frank Sinatra for a time. Unfortunately, a life of smoking caused her to have two strokes, the latter of which paralyzed her for the rest of her life. She died of pneumonia at age 67.
Julie Gibson
Julie Gibson recently died in 2019 at the age of 106. And with everything she did in that life, it’s easy to say that she lived a full one. She worked as an artist, singer, TV performer, actress, and vocal coach. She was one of the most beloved Holly actresses in her heyday. Additionally, she did vocal dubs for other actresses.
Kim Novak
This retired starlet has plenty of accolades to go with her contribution to the arts. She has two Golden Globes, an Honorary Golden Bear, and her own star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame. Of the many trials she’s faced throughout her life, she managed to beat breast cancer back in 2010. She was so beautiful that she was even hired to essentially act as a competition to the actress possibly most famous for her beauty, Marilyn Monroe.
Audrey Hepburn
A British actress and humanitarian, Audrey Hepburn had a profound effect on the world. For her amazing performances, she’s received a BAFTA, Golden Globe, and an Academy Award. The American Film Institute even ranked her the third most influential actress in Golden Age Hollywood. Unfortunately, she passed away from stomach cancer in 1993, but she will not be forgotten any time soon.
Marilyn Monroe
Probably the most famous actress on this list. Even if you haven’t seen any of Marilyn Monroe’s films, you’ve heard her name. You might even assume she’s gorgeous just based on reputation alone. While famous and influential, her life was ultimately short. She died at age 36, her life fraught with depression and addiction.
Hedy Lamarr
Hedy Lamarr was absolutely beautiful. This Austrian-American actress, while not the most notable part of her career, was the first actress to have an onscreen orgasm, doing so in the film Ecstasy. Not only was she a talented actress, but Lamarr was a double threat. She was also a brilliant inventor! She invented many different items that helped the United States during World War II, including something that would eventually be turned into bluetooth. Because of her additions to the sciences, she was posthumously inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in 2014.
Grace Kelly
Grace Kelly didn’t remain an actress for that long, marrying Prince Rainier III of Monaco and moving there as the new princess. She met a tragic end, suffering a stroke while driving back from her country home which caused her to lose control of her vehicle.
Ann-Margaret Olson
Ann-Margaret Olson was one of the world’s most prominent sex symbols through the 60’s and 70’s. Not only was she an accomplished actress, having won five Golden Globes, but was also a singer. Some even considered her the female version of Elvis Presley. Despite being in her 80s now, people still find her absolutely beautiful.
Barbara Parkins
Barbara Parkins asked her adoptive mother to let her move from Canada to Los Angeles when she was 16. And everyone thanked her when she obliged. Parkins initially tried to make it as a singer, but was quickly scouted as a superb actress instead. By the age of 24 she was already nominated for an Emmy.
Sophia Loren
Sophia Loren is well-remembered for her feminist actions (such as not shaving her armpits), but is just as remembered for her acting. She started her acting career at 14 and has continued well into her 80s. She’s won an Academy Award, a Grammy, five Special Golden Globes, and many other honors. She remains the only living classic film star.
Britt Ekland
Britt Ekland wasn’t just an actress, but a singer as well. The Swedish beauty appeared in many movies, including The Night They Raided Minsky’s and Get Carter. In 1974, she went on to play Goodnight in the 007 film The Man with the Golden Gun.
Rita Hayworth
Rita Hayworth was one of the most prominent sex symbols in the 50s and 60s. The press even dubbed her the “Love Goddess”. Her most famous role was in the 1964 film Gilda, wherein she played the titular character, and one of the first “femme fatales”. She passed away in the late 80s, having suffered from alcoholism and Alzheimer’s Disease. Even so, she is still remembered for her beauty, archival footage of her in Gilda even being used in films such as The Shawshank Redemption.
Catherine Deneuve
This French beauty rose to prominence after acting in the films Les Parapluies de Cherbourg and Roman Polanski’s Répulsion. Catherine Deneuve is a 14-time César Award nominee, so her acting talent is well-documented. Additionally, she’s dabbled in both film production and singing. Her beauty even led to her being the official face of Marianne, the French personification of liberty.
Ingrid Bergman
Ingrid Berman’s lived a prominent Hollywood life. She was nominated for and won many accolades. She passed away from breast cancer in 1982, with her face becoming a symbol for breast cancer awareness. Her beauty and talent lives on in her daughter, Isabella Rossellini, who became a Hollywood legend, herself.
Loretta Young
Loretta Young has appeared in over a hundred films, from 1917 all the way into the 90s. It seems as though she was born to be an actress, as she got her first role when she was only three years old. She passed away in August of the year 2000 at the age of 87.
Brigitte Bardot
Often referred to as BB, Brigitte was a prominent actress, singer, and animal rights activist. Having a career that started in the 50s, she retired from Hollywood in 1973 after appearing in almost 50 films and recording 60 songs. She was offered Legion of Honor by the French government, but she refused to accept it.
Doris Day
Doris Day had an iconic look in the 1950s. She was sung about in songs by the Beatles, Elton John, Wham!, and Billy Joel. She passed away at the age of 97.
Dorothy Dandridge
Dorothy Dandridge was the first African American woman to be nominated for a Best Actress Oscar. Her competition for the award included other film goddesses such as Grace Kelly, Audrey Hepburn, Judy Garland, and Jane Wyman.
