Silver-screen sirens of the 20th century

20th-century screen sirens

Today is the birthday of the legendary Marilyn Monroe, the day when she would have turned 85. In honor of this iconic sex symbol we take a look at the most glamorous and seductively beautiful silver screen sirens of the 20th century, along with their dazzling films and fiery love affairs. 

Marilyn Monroe
Her fame surpassed that of any other entertainer of her generation, and she transcended the bounds of stardom to become a cultural icon. She offered the whole package -- glamour, beauty, sex appeal, a sizzling screen presence and a talent for singing.

Her films:
"Gentleman Prefer Blondes"
"How to Marry a Millionaire"
"The Seven Year Itch"

Her loves:
A policeman
A baseball legend
A famous playwright

Greta Garbo
One of silent film's biggest stars  this Swedish actress captivated audiences with her divine looks and natural talent for conveying emotions on-camera. After the Hollywood "talkies" were introduced, her seductive voice and mysterious persona helped her become a legend, eventually earning her an honorary Oscar for her screen career.

Her films:
"Ninotchka"
"Grand Hotel"
"Camille"

Her loves:
A silent film star
A businessman
A writer and socialite

Brigitte Bardot
She was the first international star  to be as popular as any homegrown pinup in the U.S. This sultry sex symbol  is known for popularizing the bikini and also for her illustrious career as a model, singer  and flirtatious actress.

Her films:
"Contempt"
"...And God Created Woman" )
"Viva Maria!"

Her loves:
A director
A French actor
A German multimillionaire

Angelina Jolie
Regularly on the "world's most beautiful" lists, this silver screen goddess is known for her otherworldly beauty  acting talent, eccentricities and humanitarian work. She is at home portraying tough young women on the big screen and received an Academy Award for her role as a sociopath.

Her films:
"Lara Croft Tomb Raider"
"Mr. & Mrs. Smith" 
"Salt"


Her loves:
An actor and adoptive father to her children
An actor, screenwriter and director
A British actor

Sophia Loren
This Oscar-winning  actress is widely considered to be the most popular Italian actress of her time. She is famous for starring in more than 100 movies  and for her hourglass figure.

Her films:
"Two Women" 
"Man of La Mancha"
"El Cid"

Her loves:
An Italian film producer
A debonair actor

Elizabeth Taylor
She was admired for her acting ability  glamorous lifestyle, beauty and distinctive violet eyes. Part of her enduring fame includes two Academy Awards  her pioneering AIDS activism and her many marriages.

Her films:
"A Place in the Sun"
"Cat on a Hot Tin Roof"
"Giant"

Her loves:
A Welsh actor
A popular singer and entertainer
A hotel heir and businessman

Raquel Welch

A new international sex symbol took to the cinematic throne in the '60s when she hit the screen in a skimpy fur bikini. Her natural beauty  wiped away the notion that enduring sex goddesses could only be blond, and she gained recognition as a serious actress, author and businesswoman.

Her films:
"One Million Years B.C."
"Fathom"
"The Three Musketeers"

Her loves:
A French producer and photographer
A Hollywood press agent

Betty Grable
The No. 1 pinup girl and morale booster during World War II  this American actress, dancer and singer  was one of the most famous of Hollywood's blonde superwomen. Known for her luxurious legs -- famously insured by her studio  -- she offered wholesome appeal and an alluring stage presence.

Her films:
"How to Marry a Millionaire"
"Pin-Up Girl"
"I Wake Up Screaming"
Her loves:
A child film star
A trumpeter and bandleader

Rita Hayworth
With her signature wavy, auburn hair and charismatic smile  this sexy actress became a popular pinup girl during World War II  and one of the era's top stars. She left her mark on the silver screen with her sultry roles  and her considerable talent as a dancer  and singer.

Her films:
"Gilda"
"The Lady From Shanghai"
"Cover Girl"

Her loves:
A famous radio actor and film director
A prince
A big band crooner and actor

Sharon Stone

This diva has a flair for combining brainy sex appeal and old-fashioned Hollywood glamour. Her brazen role as a femme fatale elevated her to international star status, and she has since shown her considerable range as an actress.

Her films:
"Basic Instinct"
"Casino"
"Total Recall"

Her loves:
A writer, producer and director
A newspaper editor
A country singer

Gene Tierney
One of Hollywood's most luminous actresses, this striking beauty  was known for her etched cheekbones, crystal-like green eyes and elegance. A successful Broadway and film career  helped propel her to stardom.

Her films:
"Laura"
"Heaven Can Wait"
"Sundown"

Her loves:
A fashion designer
A president of the United States
A Houston oil man 

 

 Hedy Lamarr
This Austrian-born actress became a worldwide sensation in a '30s Czech film  which featured her completely nude. For a decade she was cast opposite top male stars, usually as a woman of mystery  and was known for her extraordinary beauty.

Her films:
"Algiers"
"My Favorite Spy"
"A Lady Without Passport"

Her loves:
A British actor
A highly decorated naval officer
An arms manufacturer with Nazi connections

Lana Turner
A statuesque, shapely blonde this movie goddess was discovered and signed to a film contract at age 16. Despite a highly publicized scandal, she had a prolific film career and was another of the Hollywood glamour gals to become a popular World War II pinup.

Her films:
"Peyton Place"
"The Bad and the Beautiful"
"The Postman Always Rings Twice"

Her loves:
An actor
A jazz clarinetist and composer
A gangster bodyguard

Farrah Fawcett
Sporting feathered blond hair  this iconic entertainment figure of the '70s burst onto the scene after a poster of her in a red bathing suit  sold millions of copies. Along with her wholesome look and sex appeal, she gained acclaim for her starring role in a hit TV series.

Her films:
"Extremities"
"Poor Little Rich Girl: The Barbara Hutton Story"

Her loves:
The "Six Million Dollar Man"
A screen actor from the '70s
A Canadian filmmaker

Julia Roberts
Not only has she frequented People magazine's "World's Most Beautiful" list  but she quickly became one of Hollywood's highest-paid stars after headlining a '90s romantic comedy as a hooker. She won an Oscar for this movie.

Her films:
"Pretty Woman"
"Erin Brockovich"
"Duplicity"

Her loves:
A country-western singer
An actor, director and producer
A "Law & Order" actor

Kim Novak
One of postwar Hollywood's most mysterious and alluring actresses  she is best known for her unforgettable performance in an Alfred Hitchcock movie. She exuded a daunting intellectual iciness in her roles. 

Her films:
"Picnic"
"Vertigo"
"Bell, Book and Candle"

Her loves:
An eminent English actor
The son of a Dominican dictator
A veterinarian

Jean Harlow
Known as the original "blond bombshell," she made her mark on Hollywood with her trendsetting platinum blond hair, luminous skin, arched eyebrows and red lips. This golden girl showed talent in both her sensual and comedic performances.

Her films:
"China Seas"
"The Public Enemy"
"Hell’s Angels"

Her loves:
A TV star
A director and producer
A cinematographer

Vivien Leigh
This delicate beauty is best known for her role as a Southern belle  garnering a Best Actress Academy Award.  

Her films:
"Gone With the Wind"
"Waterloo Bridge"
"Caesar and Cleopatra"

Her loves:
A renowned British actor
An English barrister
A British theater actor

Salma Hayek
One of the most prominent Mexican stars in Hollywood, this siren earned initial renown with her exotic looks  hourglass figure and smoldering onscreen charisma. Her most acclaimed performance was her Academy Award-nominated role as a Mexican painter.

Her films:
"Frida"
"From Dusk Till Dawn"
"Once Upon a Time in Mexico"

Her loves:
A French businessman
An actor and producer
An actor

Kim Basinger

A cover girl initially, this tall, blond actress  performed a breakout role as a Bond girl. She knows how to steam up the screen and is best known for her award-winning performance in a crime drama.

Her films:
"L.A. Confidential"
"9 1/2 Weeks"
"Batman"

Her loves:
A prolific TV and film actor
An actor and sex symbol
A makeup artist and author

Ava Gardner
Amidst a sea of blond-haired bombshells, this striking, green-eyed brunette  stood out and maintained a solid acting career . She was also known for her high-profile love affairs with some of Hollywood's leading men.

Her films:
"Pandora and the Flying Dutchman"
"Mogambo"
"The Barefoot Contessa"

Her loves:
An actor and comedian
A jazz clarinetist and composer
A famous bullfighter from Spain

Lauren Bacall
Known as a great female entertainer, not to mention "one tough broad," she first emerged as a leading lady in the film noir genre. She was famous for her characterizations of women whose strong will complemented their sexual attraction  and for her distinctive husky voice, sultry eyes and "the look".

Her films:
"The Big Sleep"
"To Have and Have Not"
"How to Marry a Millionaire"

Her loves:
An actor and cultural icon
A legendary singer
A stage and film actor

Jane Russell

A famous director, who cast her in an odd, psychological Western, helped bring her to fame, along with her smoldering voluptuousness. Her talents as a multifaceted actress were given more attention later in her career, when she was hailed for her comic delivery and singing talents.

Her films:
"Gentlemen Prefer Blondes"
"The Outlaw"
"Gentlemen Marry Brunettes"

Her loves:
A pro football quarterback
A stage actor
A real estate broker

Dorothy Dandridge

Her lovely dark eyes, beauty marks and cool singing style made Dandridge a standout. She reached the pinnacle of stardom as the sultry seductress in a Hollywood musical and went on to become the first black performer ever nominated for a Best Actress Oscar.

Her films:
"Carmen Jones"
"Island in the Sun"
"Change of Heart"

Her loves:
A German director and producer
A famous tap dancer
A restaurant owner

Sourcemsn.com

Jewish American Heritage Month

Jewish American Heritage Month

  Jewish-Americans are influential in a wide range of sectors -- from entertainment to the sciences. In honor of Jewish American Heritage Month, here are a few notables singled out by the Jewish-American Hall of Fame.


William Safire

  The author  Pulitzer Prize-winning conservative columnist and presidential speechwriter influenced public opinion for decades until his death in 2009. He was a leading critic of this presidential administration.


Gloria Steinem

The face of the feminist movement, Gloria Steinem been a force in shaping gender politics since the 1970s. 

Barbara Walters

The legendary broadcast journalist is known for conducting interviews with A-list celebrities, including a pop queen, a presidential couple and a screen icon. Whom did she choose for her annual "Most Fascinating People" list for 2010?

Albert Einstein

The German-born physicist who gave the world a groundbreaking theory is widely thought to be the greatest scientist of all time. He became an American citizen in 1940 and spent many years at a prestigious Ivy League university.

Alan Greenspan

Former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan  has taken heat for factors leading to the current economic downturn since retiring in 2008. Get his memoir.

Sandy Koufax

One of the greatest left-handed pitchers of all time played for the same team his entire 12-year career. The baseball icon was the youngest former player to receive a top baseball honor.

Woody Allen

Best known as a filmmaker who dwells on the drama of relationships within a comedic framework, Woody Allen has a large body of work that includes plays, music and stand-up comedy.

Al Franken

Al Franken's career has evolved from a long-running sketch comedy showto being elected a senator and authoring books.

Elizabeth Taylor

A film star in the truest sense of the word, the late screen star dazzled on and off camera for decades and became renowned for her many marriages, her extensive jewelry collection and for bringing AIDS research into the spotlight.

Henry Kissinger

The former national security adviser and secretary of state under Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1973.

Mark Zuckerberg

The founder of social networking innovator Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg was named Time magazine's Person of the Year in 2010 at the age of 26. His massive net worth? A movie came out last year based on the creation of Facebook.

Philip Roth

Roth's book "Goodbye, Columbus," published in 1959, won the National Book Award and was made into a movie, and his works depicting Jewish-American life have gone on to earn many other honors, including the Pulitzer Prize for literature.

Annie Leibovitz

The legendary photographer has trained her camera lens on celebrities ranging from a music legend  to royalty  creating iconic images.

Natalie Portman

Portman's Oscar-winning performance in "Black Swan" is the latest honor for the young actress, who retains dual American and Israeli  citizenship. She's recently engaged and expecting.

Ruth Bader Ginsburg

The second woman to sit as a Supreme Court justice was appointed during former President Bill Clinton's term in office. She has been an advocate for this constitutional principle.

Ben Bernanke

An American economist and former professor  Ben Bernanke became chairman of the Federal Reserve Board in 2006. He was criticized for his work behind the bailout of an insurance giant.

Artie Shaw

One of the primary architects of the Swing Era, big band leader and clarinetist Artie Shaw  is known for reworking standards like Cole Porter's "Begin the Beguine"  into jazzy, memorable arrangements.

Ralph Lauren

Fashion designer Ralph Lauren is known for his classic American style and has put his brand on everything from bedding to fragrances and home décor.

Albert Abraham Michelson

A Nobel prize-winning physicist known for his work on a physical constant, Albert Michelson was born in Strzelno but immigrated to the U.S. in the late 1800s as a child. He was the first to receive the Nobel Prize in this category.
Source:Specials

Elizabeth Taylor - one of the greatest actresses of Hollywood is no more.

Elizabeth Taylor – one of the greatest actresses of Hollywood is no more.

Elizabeth Taylor, the beautiful actress who dominated Hollywood films of 50s and 60s is no more. She died in March, 2011, at the age of 79 years. She was considered one of the greatest actresses of Hollywood films of all times. If the golden era, that is the 50s and 60s is associated with everlasting performances of towering actresses like Sofia Lorrain, Audrey Hepburn, Ava Gardner, Marylyn Monroe, etc, then Liz Taylor (Elizabeth Taylor) can be considered the superstar who ruled the industry inspite of performance of the other beautiful actresses.

Liz Taylor, the other name of Dame Elizabeth Rosemond Taylor, was born on 27th February, 1932, in Hampstead, UK. Her parents Francis Lenn Taylor and Sara Viola Warmbrodt were Americans who settled in UK. After the second world war II, Liz Taylor settled in Los Angeles, California, US. Hedda Hopper, a famous columnist entered Liz Taylor’s father’s art gallery and recommended her to known directors of Hollywood films. After being introduced to Andrea Berens, John Considine, Liz Taylor got a scope of performing in the film There’s Born Every Minute, at an age of nine years. In 1941, she signed a six month’s contract with Universal Pictures.

Her notable films during young age included National Velvet, Life with Father (1947), A Date with Judy (1948). With short time she got adult roles and stormed Hollywood with her matured performances. Her journey in the 50s started with romantic comedy Father of the Bride. In 1954 she acted in the film Rhapsody, opposite Vittoria Gasman. Her following films included blockbusters like Giant (1956) opposite Rock Hudson, Raintree County (1957) opposite Montgomery Clift, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958) opposite Paul Newman. In 1963, she acted in the epic film Cleopatra opposite her husband Richard Burton who played the role of Mark Anthony. She became the highest paid Hollywood actress of all times. Taylor won the academy award for best actress for her performance in the film Butterfield 8, in 1960, where her husband Eddie Fisher acted opposite her. She married a number of times, but the marriage with Richard Burton created the greatest gossip of all times.

She acted opposite Burton in other films like The VIPs (1963), The Sandpiper (1965), The Comedians, etc. She also acted opposite superstar Marlon Brando in the film Reflections in a Golden Eye. After The Only Game In Town, in 1970, she reduced her performances in Hollywood films. With eight husbands, some having died, while the other divorced, Liz Taylor was in the media even after she left acting in films. Critics argue that apart from her beauty, Liz Taylor can be considered one of the best five actresses that Hollywood had ever produced. Her admirers pay their homage to the talented actress who will remain immortal in her epic performances. Her films should be preserved and restored.

ELIZABETH TAYLOR - HOLLYWOOD ICON

Elizabeth Taylor passed away earlier today at Cedars Sinai due to Congestive Heart Failure. She has been hospitalized for this problem over a month. Diagnosis since 2004 where heart can't pump enough blood to the other organs and the heart has to work a lot harder. Elizabeth Taylor is considered as one of the greatest actresses of the Hollywood Golden Age and ranks #7 on the Female Legends List from the American Film Institute.

Born with a mutation that caused her to have double rows of eyelashes, she had a striking dark beauty. She began her acting career following her mother's footsteps when she first signed with Universal Pictures. After her contract was shortly cancelled, she was signed to MGM. Her role as Velvet Brown in National Velvet propelled her to fame at the tender age of 12.

Her golden years for acting came in the years of 1954-1959. She became the highest paid actress for her role as Cleopatra with a paycheck of $1 million in 1960. With her roles in many Hollywood films, Elizabeth Taylor won 2 Academy Awards for her performances in Butterfield 8 in 1960 and Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf in 1966.

Receiving treatment for alcoholism in the 1980s, Elizabeth Taylor faced many health problems throughout her life. In addition to being diagnosed with Congestive Heart Failure in 2004, she broke her back 5 times, had both her hips replaced, survived a benign brain tumor and skin cancer operation, and also survived pneumonia twice. Toward her later years, she cancelled many appearances due to osteoporosis amongst her many health problems and scoliosis that she was born with.

Elizabeth Taylor designed jewels for The Elizabeth Collection sold at Christie's since she had a passion of jewelry. She also began her own perfume line launching 3 different fragrances "Passion", "Black Pearls", and "White Diamonds", her most popular.

Her main charity was to AIDS work. Not only did she help start the American Foundation for AIDS Research, but created her own charity called the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation.

Though always in the tabloids regarding her personal life which included 8 marriages to 7 husbands which almost all led to divorce, Elizabeth Taylor is truly a Hollywood icon.

Elizabeth Taylor died peacefully with family around her: 4 children, 10 grandchildren, and 4 great grandchildren. A private funeral will be held later this week. Any contributions can be made to the Elizabeth Taylor Aids Foundation. Her publicist is working on a public memorial service for many of her fans.

Here's an ode to Elizabeth Taylor 1932-2011brought to you by KTLA5: http://www.ktla.com/video/viral/ktla-html-video-elizabeth-taylor,0,6853066.htmlstory

You Just Do You, Imma Do Me

Camille