Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Most Hollywood Beauty Through The Years

I just thought that I would make a post of how the idea of beauty in Hollywood had changed over time and by extension how societies idea of beauty had changed. Perhaps I am only doing this because I want to look at pictures of pretty girls (who doesn’t) or because I don’t understand how people can think that Angelina Jolie is the most beautiful woman in the world when she clearly isn’t. I guess that I wanted to see how she stacks up against the beauties of the past.

1920s

Louise Brooks

Louise Brooks was not very big in Hollywood and ended up in a few German films such as Pandora’s Box where she played Lulu. She is considered a style icon now, thanks to her hairstyle, but back then she wasn’t well-known and only became discovered after her career had finished.

Mostt Hollywood Beauty Through The Years

Louise Brooks

Clara Bow

Clara Bow was the “It” girl and was the representative of the flapper age. Her career ended when the talkies arrived. Rumour has it she was quite friendly with the 1927 University of Southern California football team.

Mostt Hollywood Beauty Through The Years

Clara Bow

Anna Mae Wong

Was the first Asian star of the cinema but was often consigned to playing the stereotypical ‘dragon lady’. Started in Hollywood when she was very young and earned the nickname ‘CCC’ or curious Chinese child. Featured in th first colour film in 1922 but was considered too Asian to even play an Asian, as producers preferred to cast white actresses in ‘yellow-face’ over Anna Mae. Has been rediscovered in recent years and is considered a gay-icon.

Mostt Hollywood Beauty Through The Years

Anna Mae Wong

1930s

Greta Garbo

Greta Garbo’s career began in the silent age but her popularity grew in the 30s. She was one of the first Swedish actresses to hit Hollywood and was at times considered to be sexually ambiguous. Was the most famous star of the late 1920s and the 1930s.

Mostt Hollywood Beauty Through The Years

Greta Garbo

Mae West

Mae West doesn’t really look all that sexy. She was almost 40 when she arrived in Hollywood. She was also short with big boobs, but she had a sexy attitude. She was the most controversial star of her day due to her outward sexuality. Famous for her double entendres.

Mae West

Marlene Dietrich

German actress who the American Film Institute named Dietrich the ninth greatest female star of all time. She was parodied so well by Madeline Kahn in Blazing Saddles.

Marlene Dietrich

Jean Harlow

The platinum blonde. Died at the age of 26 of kidney failure.

Mostt Hollywood Beauty Through The Years

Jean Harlow

Josephine Baker

Was more famous in France than America but did make one ‘color’ film in the states. When Baker returned to America in the 60s she was a war hero and an icon. Famous for the banana dance and dancing nude, she was portrayed by Lynn Whitfield in the 1991 movie The Josephine Baker story.

Mostt Hollywood Beauty Through The Years

Josephine Baker

Fay Wray

The scream queen from King Kong and lots of other 1930s thrillers.

Mostt Hollywood Beauty Through The Years

Fay Wray

1940s

Ingrid Bergman

Another Swedish actress whois ranked as the fourth greatest female star of American cinema of all time by the American Film Institute. Appears in classics such as Casablanca, Notorious and Gaslight but ended up causing a scandal when she by having an affair with Roberto Rosselini, which stalled her career for many years.

Mostt Hollywood Beauty Through The Years

Ingrid Bergman

Jane Russell

Her first movie was The Outlaw which was made by Howard Hughes. The release of that film was delayed while censors decided how best to minimize Ms. Russell’s ample cleavage.

Mostt Hollywood Beauty Through The Years

Jane Russell

Ava Gardner

Another Hollywood starlet who had affairs with many of her leading men. Was married to Mickey Rooney and had a tumultuous affair with Frank Sinatra.

Mostt Hollywood Beauty Through The Years

Ava Gardner

Lana Turner

Mostt Hollywood Beauty Through The Years

Lana Turner

1950s

Brigitte Bardot

The Parisian bombshell and still regarded as a sex symbol today.

Mostt Hollywood Beauty Through The Years

Brigitte Bardot

Sophia Loren

An Italian sex symbol who is still sexy now in her 70s.

Mostt Hollywood Beauty Through The Years

Sophia Loren

Audrey Hepburn

An icon of class and sophistication.

Mostt Hollywood Beauty Through The Years

Audrey Hepburn

Grace Kelly

One of the most beautiful actresses in Hollywood. Attracted the eye of Prince Rainier of Monaco whom she married. Died in an auto accident in 1982.

Mostt Hollywood Beauty Through The Years

Grace Kelly

Marilyn Monroe

Another icon whose life was tragically short. Still the best known sex symbol.

Mostt Hollywood Beauty Through The Years

Marilyn Monroe

Gina Lollobrigida

Another Italian actress with big boobs.

Mostt Hollywood Beauty Through The Years

Gina Lollobrigida

Jayne Mansfield

One of many Marilyn clones. Life cut short in a car accident but her daughter is Mariska Hargitay of Law And Order: SVU.

Most Hollywood Beauty Through The Years

Jayne Mansfield

1960s

Jane Fonda

Most Hollywood Beauty Through The Years

Jane Fonda

Raquel Welch

Most Hollywood Beauty Through The Years

Raquel Welch

Catherine Deneuve

Most Hollywood Beauty Through The Years

Catherine Deneuve

Elizabeth Taylor

Most Hollywood Beauty Through The Years

Elizabeth Taylor

Natalie Wood

Most Hollywood Beauty Through The Years

Natalie Wood

1970s

Farrah Fawcett

Most Hollywood Beauty Through The Years

Farrah Fawcett

Pam Grier

Most Hollywood Beauty Through The Years

Pam Grier

1980s

Brooke Shields

Most Hollywood Beauty Through The Years

Brooke Shields

Michelle Pfeiffer

Most Hollywood Beauty Through The Years

Michelle Pfeiffer

Jamie Lee Curtis

Most Hollywood Beauty Through The Years

Jamie Lee Curtis

1990s

Sharon Stone

Most Hollywood Beauty Through The Years

Sharon Stone

Julia Roberts

Most Hollywood Beauty Through The Years

Julia Roberts

Demi Moore

Most Hollywood Beauty Through The Years

Demi Moore

Uma Thurman

Most Hollywood Beauty Through The Years

Uma Thurman

2000s

Angelina Jolie

Most Hollywood Beauty Through The Years

Angelina Jolie

Salma Hayek

Most Hollywood Beauty Through The Years

Salma Hayek

Halle Berry

Most Hollywood Beauty Through The Years

Halle Berry

Scarlett Johansson

Most Hollywood Beauty Through The Years

Scarlett Johansson

Keira Knightley

Most Hollywood Beauty Through The Years

Keira Knightley

Kate Winslet

Most Hollywood Beauty Through The Years

Kate Winslet

Lucy Liu

Most Hollywood Beauty Through The Years

Lucy Liu

I also know that this post can be seen as somewhat sexist so I will be looking at the idea of masculinity in Hollywood throughout the years too, in a future post.

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