1. Who is this?
Hedy Lamarr was born in Vienna, Austria in 1914. Her early acting career was centered in Europe – mostly Austria, Germany, and the Czech Republic – but later moved to the United States. Over 28 years, she acted in 30 films that included hits like Algiers (1938), Samson & Delilah (1949), and My Favorite Spy (1951).
2. Who is this?
American actress Ava Gardner signed her first contract with a film studio in 1941. She worked on small but critically acclaimed roles until appearing in the 1946 film The Killers. From then, her fame rose with films like Mogambo (1953), which garnered her an Academy Award, and The Night of the Iguana (1964), which garnered her a Golden Globe nomination.
3. Who is this?
Actress and dancer Rita Hayworth was one of the most famous Hollywood stars of the 1940s. Her gorgeous looks caused countless GI soldiers to carry pin-up pictures of her. During her 37-year career, she appeared in 61 films. These included hits like the 1946 film Gilda and the 1947 film The Lady from Shanghai.
4. Who is this?
American Film Institute ranked Lauren Bacall as 20th on their list of greatest classic Hollywood female stars. Her husky voice and sultry appearance captivated audiences from the time she made her film debut in To Have and Have Not (1944) to the time she won a Golden Globe for The Mirror Has Two Faces (1996).
5. Who is this?
Swedish actress Ingrid Bergman starred in both American and European films. Her most notable was in the 1942 classic Casablanca. She won an Academy Award for Gaslight (1944) and was nominated three other times – for 1943’s For Whom the Bell Tolls, 1945’s The Bells of St. Mary's (1945), and 1948’s Joan of Arc.
6. Who is this?
Model and actress Lana Turner had a career that spanned nearly 50 years. In the 1940s, her career really took off when she became one of the highest-paid actresses in the business. She acted in a wide variety of film genres, including musicals ( 1941’s Ziegfeld Girl), horrors (1941’s Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde), and dramas (1942’s Somewhere I'll Find You).
7. Who is this?
Veronica Lake acted on stage, film, and television. Her iconic looks (especially her hairstyle) boosted her popularity in the 1940s with roles in I Wanted Wings (1941), This Gun For Hire (1942), and So Proudly We Hail! (1943). Unfortunately, she gained a “difficult to work with” reputation which, mixed with alcoholism, led to her career decline.
8. Who is this?
Actress and singer Mary Leta Dorothy Lamour began her rise to stardom in the 1930s while singing for big bands. Shortly thereafter she transitioned into acting in films like The Jungle Princess (1936). As the 1940s rolled around, she starred in a series of comedy films beginning with The Road to Singapore (1940) and ending with The Road to Bali (1952).
9.Who is this?
American actress Joan Bennett grew up in an acting family. She appeared in over 70 films during her long career but is best known for playing femme fatales in a series of Fritz Lang movies in the 1940s. These included 1941’s Man Hunt, 1944’s The Woman in the Window, and 1945’s Scarlet Street.
10. Who is this?
Model, singer, and actress Jane Russell was one of the biggest sex symbols of the 1940s and 1950s. Her film debut was in 1943’s The Outlaw. From that time until the end of her career, she appeared in over 20 films – including a starring role opposite Marilyn Monroe in 1953’s Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.
11. Who is this?
Dancer, singer, and actress June Haver had a relatively short but respectable film career in the 1940s and 1950s. She appeared in 1944’s Home In Indiana (her film debut), 1945’s Where Do We Go From Here? (opposite her soon-to-be husband, actor Fred MacMurray), and the 1949 musical Look For The Silver Lining.
12. Who is this?
Producer and actress Donna Reed appeared in over 40 films in a career that lasted over 40 years. One of her most famous roles is in the classic 1946 film It’s a Wonderful Life. Another highlight in her career was winning an Academy Award for her role in the 1953 movie From Here to Eternity.
13. Who is this?
Competitive swimmer and actress Esther Williams used both talents in her famed “aquamusicals” of the 1940s and 1950s that mixed acting with synchronized swimming and diving. She also appeared in influential musicals like Thrill of a Romance (1945), Take Me Out to the Ball Game (1949), and Neptune’s Daughter (1949).
14. Who is this?
American actress Gene Eliza Tierney worked on stage and film. She had early success on Broadway with The Male Animal (1940) and then transitioned to Hollywood. During the 1940s, she was a (gorgeous) leading lady who starred in 1944’s Laura and 1945’s Leave Her to Heaven (which won her an Academy Award nomination).
15. Who is this?
Actress Claudette Colbert first worked on Broadway, then moved to films during the late 1920s and early 1930s. After winning an Academy Award for It Happened One Night (1934), her career continued to grow. She was one of the highest-paid actresses of the 30s and 40s and was well-known for starring in 1942’s The Palm Beach Story.
16. Who is this?
Joan Leslie began acting at a young age – her first role was at age 11 in Camille (1936). After that, she continued to perform and became popular in the 1940s with minor roles opposite leading men like Humphrey Bogart in High Sierra (1941) and Gary Cooper in Sergeant York (1941).
17. Who is this?
American actress Carole Landis landed her film debut in 1937 – as an extra in A Star Is Born. Her big break came in 1940 with the wildly successful film One Million B.C. After that, she landed roles as the second female lead in I Wake Up Screaming (1941) and Moon Over Miami (1941).
18. Who is this?
Over Barbara Stanwyck’s long acting career, she appeared in Broadway, films, and television. During that time she earned four Academy Award nominations. As one of the highest-paid actresses of the 1940s, she was well-regarded for her work in The Lady Eve (1941), Double Indemnity (1944), and Sorry, Wrong Number (1948).
19. Who is this?
Lucille Désirée Ball was an American Actress, comedian, and producer Lucille Ball is well-known for her hit 1950s TV sitcom I Love Lucy. However, she was also known for her film work in the 1940s. This includes the musicals Too Many Girls (1940) and Du Barry Was a Lady (1943) as well as the drama The Big Street (1942).
20. Who is this?
Betty Grable was a highly successful actress, model, and singer. Alongside being the number 1 pin-up model for American soldiers during World War II, she was a box office sensation – her 1930s and 40s films made over $100 million. Grable starred in the 1947 musical Mother Wore Tights and the 1953 comedy How to Marry a Millionaire.
21. Who is this?
British actress Vivien Leigh worked on Broadway plays and in Hollywood films. Over her 30+ year career, she garnered two Academy Awards and starred in film classics. She’s best known for her roles in Gone with the Wind (1939) and A Streetcar Named Desire (1951). In the 1940s, she starred in the popular film That Hamilton Woman (1941).
22. Who is this?
Actress Jane Wyman began acting at 16 and continued acting for the next 70 years. During that time she won an Academy Award, three Golden Globes, and two Primetime Emmy nominations. During the 1940s, she won acclaim with roles in The Lost Weekend (1945), The Yearling (1946), and Johnny Belinda (1948).
23. Who is this?
Mae West was a controversial and highly successful actress, writer, comedian and sex symbol who was in the entertainment industry for over 70 years. Films like She Done Him Wrong (1933) and I’m No Angel (1933) brought her fame as well as the threat of censorship. The 1943 film The Heat’s On was heavily censored and suffered for it.
24. Who is this?
American actress Paulette Goddard first gained popularity in the 1930s with a role in Charlie Chaplin’s Modern Times (1936). However, her work with Paramount in the 40s boosted her profile. She appeared in The Great Dictator (1940), Reap the Wild Wind (1942) and So Proudly We Hail! (1943) – which won her an Oscar nomination.
25. Who is this?
Actress Frances Elena Farmer was signed to Paramount Pictures in the mid-1930s, and shortly thereafter made her debut in Too Many Parents (1936). She gained some fame in the 1940s, appearing in the 1941’s comedy World Premier and 1941’s film noir Among the Living. However, mental health problems led to a career decline as she was confined to psychiatric institutions.
26. Who is this?
Actress Carole Lombard was well-loved for her role in screwball comedies like Twentieth Century (1934) and My Man Godfrey (1936). She tried to move into more serious roles in films like Vigil in the Night (1940) and They Knew What They Wanted (1940), but they weren’t as successful as her comedies. Tragically, she died in a plane crash in 1942.
27. Who is this?
From the 1930s to the 1980s, actress Claire Trevor appeared in 68 films. Her debut came in 1933 with Jimmy and Sally, and her acting work and fame continued to grow in the 1940s. Memorable roles include her work in 1944’s Murder, My Sweet, 1947’s Born to Kill, and 1948’s Key Largo – which won her an Academy Award.
28. Who is this?
Singer, model, and actress Marie McDonald first began her career with the Broadway production of Earl Carroll's Vanities. From there, she moved into Hollywood films and gained the nickname “The Body” for her good looks. She appeared in comedies and musicals like Getting Gertie’s Garter (1945) and Living in a Big Way (1947).
29. Who is this?
American actress Ann Sheridan landed her first role in the 1934 film Search for Beauty and continued acting until her death in 1967. She moved into stardom in the late 1930s and early 1940s with appearances in Angels with Dirty Faces (1938), They Drive by Night (1940), and her most successful film Kings Row (1942).
30. Who is this?
Singer and actress Doris Day began her long entertainment career as a singer. Her first hit “Sentimental Journey” became a favorite for American soldiers in WWII and led her to work with Bob Hope. She made her film debut in 1948’s Romance on the High Seas and rose to the height of her fame in the 1950s and 1960s.
31. Who is this?
Actress, dancer, and singer Ginger Rogers rose to fame in the 1930s with a series of musical films opposite Fred Astaire. In 1940, she won an Academy Award for her role in Kitty Foyle. Her success continued with roles in highly successful films like 1943’s Tender Comrade, 1944’s Lady in the Dark, and 1945’s Week-End at the Waldorf.
32. Who is this?
Lena Horne’s career as an actress, singer, and dancer lasted for 70 years. It began with her dancing in the 1935 musical Jitterbug Party and continued with her 1942 film debut in Panama Hattie. Although she appeared in the 1943 musical Cabin in the Sky, the fact that she was African American made it difficult for her to get starring roles.
33. Who is this?
In her 50-year career, actress Bette Davis acted in over 100 films that spanned the genres – from crime to history to suspense to comedy to drama. After her breakout role in 1934’s Of Human Bondage, she won an Academy Award for 1935’s Dangerous. Her fame and critical acclaim continued to grow in the 1940s with Now, Voyager (1942).
34. Who is this?
Loretta Young began her career as a child actress in Sirens of the Sea (1917) and continued in film and television for most of her life. The height of her career was during the 1940s when she appeared in Ladies Courageous (1944), The Stranger (1946), and The Farmer’s Daughter (1947) – which won her an Academy Award.
35. Who is this?
Actress and writer Shelley Winters made her acting debut in the 1941 Broadway show The Night Before Christmas. From there, she played a few small roles in the early and mid-1940s before gaining more popularity and acclaim in films such as A Double Life (1947), Cry of the City (1948), and The Great Gatsby (1949).
36. Who is this?
Actress Norma Shearer began her career in the era of silent films but moved into talkies with 1929’s highly successful The Trial of Mary Dugan. She won an Academy Award for 1930’s The Divorcee and was loved for her role in Marie Antoinette (1938). In 1940, she appeared in Escape, which critics loved. Shortly thereafter, she retired from film.
37. Who is this?
Katharine Hepburn’s acting career lasted for over 60 years. Shortly after she arrived in Hollywood, she won an Academy Award for 1933’s Morning Glory. She would go on to win three more Oscars and be nominated 12 times. In the 1940s, she gained critical acclaim and audience love for The Philadelphia Story (1940) and Woman of the Year (1942).
38. Who is this?
Actress and singer Greer Garson’s entertainment career spanned from the 1930s to the 1980s. However, in the early to mid-1940s she reached a high point of fame and acclaim. She had five consecutive Academy Award nominations, won an Academy Award for 1942’s Mrs. Miniver, and regularly appeared in the top ten at the box office.
39. Who is this?
Actress, dancer, and singer Dolores del Río began her Hollywood career with silent films like What Price Glory? (1926). Although her career had a few setbacks in the 1930s, it grew in the 1940s with films like Journey into Fear (1943) and The Fugitive (1947). She split her work life between Mexico and the United States.
40. Who is this?
Deborah Kerr worked on films in both the UK and the US during her 50-year career. Over that time, she was nominated for six Academy Awards. She gained success in Britain with 1943’s The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp. She gained international fame with The Black Narcissus (1947) and started working with Hollywood in The Hucksters (1947).