7 Iconic Actresses From The Golden Era Of Film

5th November 2014

By Katherine Johnson.

The Golden Era or the Golden Age of Hollywood stretches from the 30’s to the late 50’s. It marked the end of the silent movies and the start of a new and exciting era for Hollywood. With this came the greatest collection of actors and actresses gathered in one place. Icon’s were born, they were on the screen and had style, elegance and success.

Here are 7 of the many iconic actresses from this time, plus a little something extra that you perhaps did not know.

Joan Crawford (1904-1977)

Joan Crawford often played hard working women looking for romance and success, she was well received. She became one of the highest paid women in the United States.However at the end of the 30’s her films were losing money and she became known as “Box office Poison”!

Joan began her career as a dancer and signed her first contract in 1925. It was once commented in the New York Mirror “Joan Crawford… does the greatest work of her career” for the film ‘Our Dancing Daughters’ in (1928). This was a silent drama film about the’ loosening of youth and morals’ set in the 20’s. It was this film that made Joan a major star, a position she held for over half a century. In 1945 she made her come back and won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in Mildred Place.

Betty Davis (1908-1989)

During 1945-1949 Davis had several professional setbacks. A film Possessed (1947) had been tailor made for Davis, however a pregnant Davis went on maternity leave. Joan Crawford took the role and was nominated for Best Actress Academy award. This happened a second time in 1951. Katherine Hepburn took the role Davis turned down in The African Queen and went on to be nominated for best actress award.

Betty had a quirky voice and an off beat look but when on screen, everyone disappeared. She won her first Academy Award for her role in Dangerous in 1935, which she played a troubled young actress. Davis appeared in nearly 100 films before her death in 1989.

Judy Garland (1922-1969)

Judy was the little girl with a big voice, she was an actress and a singer and was once described by Fred Astaire as the “greatest entertainer who ever lived”. Her role as Dorothy in the classic film ‘The Wizard of Oz’ (1939) is the film she is best known for.

Judy Garland died at the age of just 47 due to her long battle with drugs and alcohol, she was found by her 5th husband in the bathroom of their rented house in Chelsea, London. She suffered from a young age due to film executives telling her she was unattractive.

Marilyn Monroe (1926-1962)

Marilyn Monroe the buxom, blue-eyed blonde bomb shell appeared in one of her best films ‘Some Like It Hot’ (1959) which showcased her comic gifts. In 2000 was listed as the greatest American comedy film of all time by the American Film Institute.

She was found dead at her home in Los Angeles on the 5th August 1962 at the age of 36. She died of a drug overdose and a probable suicide. However there are many theories circulating her death. Some believe John and Robert Kennedy were involved while others suggest the Mafia. Apparently President Kennedy was the last person she called.

Audrey Hepburn (1929-1993)

Audrey was born to parents who were members of the British Union of Fascists, her father became a Nazi sympathiser. In 1935, her mother discovered her father in bed with the nanny and he left the family abruptly. Audrey located her father again in the 1960’s, she remained in touch with him and supported him financially until his death.

Audrey was a smart, complicated brunette in a world of pneumatic blondes. She was recognised as a film and fashion icon and has been placed in the International Best Dressed List. Best known to most for her role in the iconic film ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s’ (1961) she regarded it as one of her most challenging roles as she was an introvert playing an extrovert! The film received 5 Academy Awards, one for Audrey as Best Actress.

Grace Kelly (1929-1982)

Grace was an American actress who began her career at the age of 20 and retired from acting at 26 to become the Princess of Monaco. Her new role did not allow her to continue acting. She appeared in three of Alfred Hitchcock films, Dial M for Murder (1954), Rear Window(1954) and To Catch A Thief(1955). She was always impossibly elegant.

The real story of Grace Kelly may never be told. It is claimed she was a sex-crazed lover of men who slept her way to the top, she took older lovers to satisfy her obsession with her father. Apparently on the night she won her Oscar for The Country Girl in 1954, she’d been having an affair with Bing-Crosby, but had plans to spend the night with Marlon Brando. At 3am Bing went to her hotel room to find a naked Brando in her bed!

Ginger Rogers (1911-1995)

Ginger Rogers had a successful career as an actress, dancer and singer. She made 73 films, collaborating with Fred Astaire as a romantic lead actress and dancing partner.This partnership is what she is most famous for and from 1933-1939 they made 9 musical films together. They revolutionized Hollywood musicals setting an unprecedented elegance.

Rogers parents separated not long after her birth and she and her mother went to live with her Grandparents. Ginger’s parents fought over custody and due to him being denied visitation rights, her father kidnapped her twice. Ginger was then left with her grandparent’s while her mother went in search of a job.

So 7 iconic women, all successful, all with glittering careers in what is the Golden Age of Hollywood. 7 actresses who became known for their style and elegance as well as their presence on the screen. However it seems that times don’t change too much and often with success comes upset whether this be at the start of their lives or at the end of their career. But no one can take away from them their achievement’s and status of Iconic Actresses.

Author Biography

Katherine writes about branding within the textile and fashion industry. Her passions are films and food. She contributes to the GB Labels Woven Labels blog where she gives tips and advice.

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