Famous Women In The 60’s: Then And Now

Audrey Hepburn

This list would not be complete without the fashion and beauty icon, Audrey Hepburn, who still holds a significant influence over today’s concept of style. During Hollywood’s Golden Age, Hepburn was among the people’s favorite leading ladies. She was recognized with an Academy Award, Golden Globe Award and a BAFTA Award for her performance in Roman Holiday, becoming the first actress to ever receive that much credit for a single performance.

However, people give her the most credit for her character Breakfast at Tiffany’s, in which she wore her iconic black outfit. The actress and humanitarian died in her sleep on January 20, 1993. Hepburn made a total of 31 high-quality films. Her elegance and style will always be remembered in the history of film. She was selected as “the top 100 movie stars of all time” by Empire magazine. The U.S. Postal Service has issued a 37-cent commemorative stamp commemorating her as a Hollywood legend and humanitarian.

Meryl Streep

When people talk about legends in Hollywood and in the history of acting in general, it’s nearly impossible not to mention the great Meryl Streep. She has proven her talent over and over again throughout the years, but during the 60’s, she was already a star. Even with her amazing collection of 149 awards and 407 nominations, it seems like no degree of recognition can even suffice to appreciate her contributions to the entertainment industry.

Meryl is good at showing off her skills and preparing her characters meticulously and painstakingly, and over the next decade has performed a series of award-winning performances in big films such as Silverwood,1983. No one else has ever gathered that many awards! Currently, she’s still blessing the world with her unbelievable skills and honestly, everybody seems to be thankful for it.

Julie Christie

Another 60’s actress that impressed the world with her talent is British actress and activist, Julie Christie. She’s a British film legend who’s known as “the most poetic actress of all time.” She was so good that she received numerous awards and accolades for her performances in films like Darling, Doctor Zhivago, Away From Her, and many more. After decades in the show business, Julie Christie is still active and continues to deliver stunning portrayals of characters.

Christie’s breakthrough film role was Billy Liar in 1963. Her performance in Darling attracted international attention and earned her an Oscar for Best Actress and Doctor Zhivago, the eighth-highest-grossing film of all time. With all her success, there’s no doubt that she has high credit score and bulky credit cards. However, the admirable actress continues to support various advocacies through her donations, proving to everyone that her pretty face and acting talent also comes with a good heart.

Cher

Speaking of Hollywood icons, you can’t get as iconic as Cher. The name is practically a trademark now, even though her title, Goddess of Pop, further proves her legacy in the music industry. Before, she was famously known for being the other half of the duo, Sonny and Cher, and for someone with such an incredible music career, she must consider her unique voice as her prime investment.

In 1962, Cher met Sonny Bono and they married on 27 October 1964. Dressed in fancy dress and quirky hairstyles and make-up, the eccentric couple became idols of the “pollen age” scenes of the late 1960s and were welcomed around the world. The world seems to recognize her in everything she does—singing, acting, hosting—and she has received awards for all of them, including Grammy’s, Emmy’s and Academy awards. Her acting endeavors still haven’t stopped since she appeared in recent ones like Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again!

Raquel Welch

During the 60’s, nobody could take their eyes off of Raquel Welch. Every time she walked into a room or appeared on screen, people just couldn’t help but follow her every move. In Fantastic Voyage and One Million Years B.C., two of her notable works, she was noted as an unforgettable face and a memorable character. She is synth for the most successful sex appeal since Marilyn Monroe，and forever erase the idea that the enduring goddess of sex only appears in one form – bottled blond hair.

Her beauty and fantastic body also earned her the 3rd spot in Playboy’s Sexiest Stars list in 2003. She doesn’t teach in online classes, but The Raquel Welch Total Beauty & Fitness Program shares her wellness tips with everyone who’s interested. She also has her own line of wigs, jewelry, and skincare.

Julie Andrews

Julie Andrews is one of the most popular Hollywood icons in the 60’s and even until today. You might recognize her for her roles in Mary Poppins, The Sound of Music, and The Princess Diaries. Her incredible talents and irresistible charm won the hearts of many fans and she’s still one of the most celebrated actresses today. Andrews won an Oscar for Best Actress for her auspicious film The Joy in Walt Disney Co.’s auspicious film in 1964.

Unfortunately, because of a surgery failure, she lost her amazing singing voice. But that doesn’t stop Julie Andrews from being the star she still is today. With all of her success and recognition, she and her financial statement must have heaps of dollars to count. Andrews received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2017 Hamptons International Film Festival.

Rita Tushingham

In 1961, Rita Tushingham debuted as a film actress in the film A Taste of Honey. Since then, she kept scoring roles for various movies such as Doctor Zhivago, Smashing Time, The Bed Sitting Room, The Leather Boys, and many more. Rita has also collected countless of awards and recognitions for her contributions to the world of cinema, as well as for her fantastic performances. There’s no doubt that her credit cards are also benefitting from her acting success.

More than that, the world will always be inspired by her rise to fame and her portrayals of iconic and interesting characters. Oliver Reed once said: “She’s not the most classically beautiful woman England has ever had, but she has a pair of eyes and I want to go swimming.” Rita Tushingham has a pair of turquoise eyes that are intoxicating. In the second half of the 1960s, her popularity began to erode, but christie in Zhivago began to soar, making her the face of swinging London.

Julie Harris

Julie Harris is considered one of the best actresses during the 60’s, widely respected for her amazing performances and expertise. She had debuted her career on stage in 1945 and later, received a Tony Award for her portrayal of Sally Bowles in I Am a Camera. She continued to receive credit for her performances, winning four more Tony’s for her roles in Forty Carats, The Belle of Amherst, The Lark and The Last of Mrs. Lincoln.

When she played her character for the film adaptation of Member of the Wedding, it was no surprise that she won an Academy Award for Best Actress. During her six decades of career, Harris has been highly rated for her performances in film, television and stage productions, and is one of the best classical and contemporary actresses on the American stage in the 20th century. Harris died of congestive heart failure at his home in West Chatham, Massachusetts, in 2013. She was 87 years old.

Brigitte Bardot

During the 50’s and 60’s, people almost worshipped the beautiful Brigitte Bardot because of her jaw dropping beauty and sex appeal. In 1952, she appeared in her first film, Girls in Bikinis, in a bikini that quickly became popular as a sex goddess. She was famous for portraying sexy and hedonistic characters, making her the top sex symbol of her generation. Her role in And God Created Woman added to her international fame.

The quote “every man wanted her and every women wanted to be her,” perfectly applied to Bridgitte Bardot. However, she decided to retire early in her career in 1973. Since then, she devoted a lot of her investment money to support her animal rights advocacy and continues to promote it until today. She founded the Brigitte Bardot Foundation, which is probably bigger than any film she could have made.

Ali MacGraw

Most people would probably recognize Ali MacGraw because of her role in Love Story. However, before that, she had already caught the attention of critics when she played her role in Goodbye, Columbus and won a Golden Globe. Her other characters appeared in movies such as The Getaway, Convoy, Players, Just Tell Me What You Want and The Winds of War. Ali MacGraw has been named one of the 50 most beautiful people in the world by People magazine.

With all her acting success, though, she never gets as much credit for her animal rights activism, as she deserves. In July 2006, McGraw filmed a public service announcement for PETA urging residents to carry pets in wildfires. Her support to the cause is no secret, and soon the Animal Protection of New Mexico awarded her with the Humane Education Award for her efforts.

Barbra Streisand

It takes a certain degree of incomparable talent to be considered as the Queen of the Divas, and Barbra Streisand is rightfully named. We probably don’t even need to introduce her since she’s such a huge icon in the music industry. With her powerful voice and countless of fans, she rose to being one of the best-selling artists of all time. Almost every artist looks up to her and respects her, especially because her amazing singing skills never ceased to wow any kind of audience.

Over the course of nearly 50 years, Streisand has contributed to the performing arts industry in a unique and personal way, collecting generations of fans. Her strong voice, easy to recognize, funny and often self-deprecating, did not prevent her from showing a serious and distinctive character. From Grammy’s, Golden Globes, Emmy’s, Oscar’s to a Special Tony Award, it seems like she won everything, and she deserves every single one!

Sophia Loren

During the 1960’s, Sophia Loren rose to fame for being one of the world’s most beautiful women. In these early films, she was known as “Sofia Lazaro” because people joked that her beauty could bring Lazarus back from the dead. Everywhere she goes, people would always stare because she was that irresistible! But aside from her magnificent charm, she was also known for her elegant flair in acting as well.

There weren’t any online classes for acting back then, but Sophia was determined to learn more about the art. Even though she started out as a beauty queen first, her passion for her craft shone through all her roles. Because of this, to this day, she has been recognized as one of the best employees in the industry and one of the most beloved and recognized figures in the international film industry.

Faye Dunaway

Faye Dunaway is another celebrated actress from the 60’s. Her career began on the Broadway stage, acting live in front of hundreds of audiences. However, she is best recognized as half of the notorious couple, Bonnie & Clyde. Her role as Bonnie Parker earned her an Oscar nomination, but what started it all was her first film, The Happening. Even before that, she had to earn her degree in theater from Boston University.

After filming the biographical film Mommie Dearest, Faye Dunaway played a child abuse mother in the film. Although some critics affirmed her performance, most people focused on hysterical dialogue and fancy child abuse scenes. Faye Dunaway later admitted that she regretted taking the role. Despite career setbacks during the late 60’s and early 70’s and her seemingly cold image, she still managed to make a comeback in Tea at Five.

 Joan Crawford

Joan Crawford was only a dancer for travelling theatrical companies and later, a chorus girl, before she gained critical acclaim as an actress. Joan Crawford had an unhappy childhood, her parents had separated when she was born, and by her teens she had three stepfathers. She attended Stephens College for a while, but she did not obtain her degree. But Joan Crawford is a great dancer. She took part in several dance competitions and became a member of the choir. She danced in big cities in the Midwest and East Coast, and later went to Hollywood, where she started her acting career.

Just a few years later, she was offered a contract with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and skyrocketed into one of the highest paid actresses of her time. Because of her classic rags to riches characters, she caught the attention of the mass, especially the women, during the Depression era. Throughout her career, she was considered as one of the greatest Classic Hollywood female stars, until she retired in 1972.

Kate Jackson

We all have Kate Jackson to thank for saving the Charlie’s Angels show from being called Alley Cats, but it seems like she doesn’t get enough credit for it. Kate is best known for being a part of the famous trio as Sabrina Duncan. She spent many years as an actress, but she only realized her love for filmmaking during the making of Scarecrow & Mrs. King. As a director and producer, she was behind The Cold Heart of a Killer, Child’s Cry, Topper and a few others.

Kate Jackson survived two battles with breast cancer. One in 1987 and one in 1989. After a partial mastectomy and radiotherapy, she won the battle and shared her experience to highlight the importance of mammograms. Recently, she has faced legal troubles with her financial advisor. Hopefully, she’ll overcome it soon.

Julie Newmar

Every DC fan would know Julie Newmar. She starred alongside Adam West’s Batman as Catwoman. Even though she shared the role with a couple of other actresses, Julie’s version seemed to stand out among the rest. It’s probably because of her great looks and her character portrayal. Julie has said that she wants to be famous for her comedy. She wants the audience to find her funny, which is the biggest compliment in the world.

She has beauty, a mind and a wonderful sense of humor. In order to promote her various performances on Broadway and Broadway, she often poses as a girl in a mask. In fact, she also scored a minor part in another famous franchise Star Trek. With all her success, she didn’t need small business loans to pursue her real estate business. Now, aside from acting, she is also an advocate for LGBT rights. This actress, dancer, singer, writer and businesswoman has definitely left her mark in history.

Angela Lansbury

When you hear Angela Lansbury, you might recognize her to be a part of one of your favorite Disney films. If you’re a Beauty and the Beast fan, there’s no doubt that you’ve heard of the actress who played the warm and loving Mrs. Potts years before Emma Thompson took over. However, she is also recognized for her award-winning character in The Picture of Dorian Gray.

While other celebrities considered their wealth as important, Angela sees her decades of acting and influence as her real worthy investment. Angela Lansbury believes that the work in the theatre continues to revitalize her and it can bring her excitement and fun with new things, which is a great gift. Currently, at the age of 93, Angela is still active in the business, but her passion never flickered once. Lansbury is one of the few actors in Hollywood who didn’t retire in the ’80s or ’90s and didn’t stop working.

Diana Ross

Another music icon goes by the name of Diana Ross. As a teenager, Diana Ross began singing with friends Mary Wilson, Florence Ballard and Barbara Martin in the Primettes band. Before she pursued a solo career, she was known for being the lead singer of The Supremes and it rose to being one of the most famous girl groups of all time. In 1970, she left the group and released a solo album called Touch Me in the Morning.

Diana also ventured into acting and earned a Golden Globe and an Academy Award for her performance in films like Lady Sings the Blues, The Wiz, Double Platinum, Mahogany and Out of Darkness. Despite personal and professional ups and downs, Ross has stood the test of time as a performer with a career of more than four decades. She was such a big influence that even other music icons like Michael Jackson and Beyoncé look up to her!

Lynda Carter

Lynda Carter was not just a pretty face. After being crowned as Miss World United States in 1972, she began to prove to the world she was not only beauty and brains, but also a woman of many talents as well. She is best known for her role as Diana Prince a.k.a. Wonder Woman in the live-action TV series. This role, which made Lynda Carter a household name in the United States, also gained a large number of fans.

As a former beauty queen, she considers her skincare routine as an important investment, but her talents in acting and singing are what made her the star she is today. Now, she’s still active in the show business—very much still the Wonder Woman the world knows her to be. In addition to her successful career, Lynda has been involved in a number of charitable causes and has received the Jill Ireland Award for her volunteer work.

Barbara Eden

Barbara Eden is another Hollywood icon. The actress and singer honed her singing skills during her early years as a church choir, nightclub and local band singer. She further developed her talent by joining the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, but she received more credit as an actress in the TV sitcom, I Dream of Jeannie. Before her rise to fame, she began to appear in several TV shows such as Gunsmoke, Route 66, The Johnny Carson Show, The Rogue, How to Marry a Millionaire and Burke’s Law.

She also didn’t get much success prior to her sitcom as she kept auditioning for roles but was rarely accepted. However, in 1964, her luck changed when Sidney Sheldon considered her for the role of Jeannie. To this day, Barbara Eden has been named one of the most popular comedy stars by TV Guide and has received lifetime achievement awards from the Radio Hall of Fame, the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce and the Television Land Television Network.

Bibi Andersson

Bibi Andersson is another actress that had frequently worked with the Swedish director, Ingmar Bergman. Bibi Andersson attends the Performance School at the Royal Theatre in Stockholm. She was further supported by her sister Gerd Andersson, a ballerina at the Royal Opera House. She starred alongside Liv Ullman in Persona, where she played the role of a nurse that cared for Ullman’s ill character.

Her role allowed her to speak for the majority of the scenes and she received critical acclaim as Best Actress. Since then, she continued to work with Bergman and eventually debuted in the US in Full Circle. However, she mostly got credit for I Never Promised You A Rose Garden. Unfortunately, after suffering from a stroke in 2009, she made frequent trips to the hospital until she died in April 2019 at the age of 83.

Gena Rowlands

With a career that spans for over 6 decades, Gena Rowlands is considered as a veteran actress and a gem in Hollywood history. She’s popular for starring in films such as A Woman Under the Influence, Opening Night, Gloria, Thursday’s Child, and Love Streams, where she worked with the director, John Cassavetes. The couple met at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, where they were both pursuing a degree.

They worked together for ten films and were married from 1954 until his death in 1989. Gena Rowlands thinks all the characters she and John Cassavetes are filming are very important. Working with John would make her feel free, and John was a director who would give the actors freedom. Years later, she married a retired businessman, Robert Forrest, and the two are still happily married until today.

Stéphane Audran

Not many actresses can claim a filmography as impressive as Stephane Audran’s. Hailing from the city of love itself, Paris, it seemed like the actress was made to capture the hearts and the attention of many, including critics, because of her amazing performances on screen. Most of her films were award-winning and Stéphane’s roles were vital in their success. The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie, Babette’s Feast, The Big Red One and Violette Noziéreare only a few examples of her famous movies, but all her other works also prove that she’s an amazing actress of a superior degree.

She was married to Claude Chabrol and Jean-Louis Trintignant. She has appeared in three films with her ex-husband, Jean-Louis Trintignant, but never worked together when they married. Stéphane Audran loves food very much. She credits her first husband, Jean-Louis Trintignant, for introducing her to Provence-style cooking. She died of illness on March 27, 2018, at the age of 85 in Nay, on the banks of the Seine in France.

Dolly Parton

Everybody knows Dolly Parton for her big blonde hair, a feature you can’t miss once you look at her. However, you also can’t ignore her personality and talent for singing. From her fame during the ’60s until today, she’s still considered as an unforgettable icon in the music industry. Besides her contributions to music as a singer-songwriter and record producer, she’s also an actress, businesswoman, author and humanitarian.

She fell in love with Carl Dean, who ran the asphalt paving business; they married on May 30, 1966, and are still together. She is the head of Dolly Parton Enterprises, a $100m media empire. She’s known to be behind famous songs such as Whitney Houston’s I Will Always Love You and the musical score for 9 to 5. She also poured her investment money into her own theme park called, Dollywood.

Deborah Kerr

Throughout Deborah Kerr’s career, she was revered as a versatile, elegant and talented actress who is never afraid of portraying diverse characters, often exploring roles and still impressing her audience. She is popularly known for her role in The King and I, for which she won a Golden Globe award. She also received an Honorary Academy Award, as well as honorary awards from BAFTA and the Cannes Film Festival.

Furthermore, she also received credit for her versatility, playing the roles of a battered wife, a nun and even a mama’s girl in The End of the Affair, Heaven Knows, Mr. Allison and Separate Tables. Deborah Kerr has been at the pinnacle of her career for 45 years. In 12 years, she was nominated for six Oscars, but it wasn’t until 1994 that she won the statuette award for her life’s work.

Jayne Mansfield

During the 1960s, the world started to become a little more open to provocativeness and sensuality in the show business. As a result, women and men were called “sex symbols” because of their sexual appeal. One of them was Jayne Mansfield, a former nightclub entertainer turned singer, actress, and one of the first Playmates. She was made famous by her films such as The Wayward Bus, Too Hot to Handle and Promises! Promises! She was made even more popular because of her publicity stunts that often involved wardrobe malfunctions.

Because of her body, Jayne Mansfield has played a number of blonde roles and gained legions of fans. Jayne Mansfield does have a talent for acting, but film executives insist she will continue to play silly blonde stereotypes. She reportedly had an IQ of 163. Her numerous alleged affairs with her co-stars and even with her attorney headlined tabloids and newspapers. Sadly, she died in a car crash at age 34.

Sarah Miles

Sarah Miles came from a family of prominent education, with each of her parents having an Engineering degree. However, instead of following their path, she pursued a career as a film and theater actress. She became known for her roles in movies like Blowup, The Servant, Ryan’s Daughter and Hope and Glory. Her career peaked when her husband, the screenwriter Robert Bolt, adapted Madame Bovary’s story from the 1916 Easter Rising in Ireland.

Throughout her years as an actress, she had been frequently nominated as a BAFTA Best Actress, but she never won any of the awards. In 1975, Miles took part in the TV series The Requiem of the Sisters, adapted from William Faulkner’s novel, and in 1976 she played The Sailor Who Fell from Grace with the Sea, after which she divorced Bolt and her career began to decline. Her fame during the 60’s only scored her even more roles to play and characters to portray, but unfortunately, she decided to retire in 2004.

Stefania Sandrelli

Stefania Sandrelli is one of the most beautiful faces in the history of film. Because of this, she was awarded as Miss Cinema Viareggio in 1960. Her great looks also landed her a front-page feature as a cover girl for Le Ore. Since then, it was impossible for this beauty not to get noticed. In 1961, she finally debuted in the film, Divorce Italian Style, and continued to deliver stunning performances in her future movies.

Stefania sandrelli is one of the few actresses who can grow old gracefully and get interesting roles. She is still considered one of the most beautiful women in Italy, and she can still attract the audience with her sweet smile and sparkling eyes. She proved that her fantastic charm isn’t the only thing that deserves credit for her success. In fact, because of her significant contributions to her field, she was awarded as Chevalier of the Ordre Des Arts et des Lettres.

Pat Priest

Pat Priest is famously known for her role in the TV series, The Munsters. Pat’s beauty made her a household name. Ever since she replaced Beverley Owen in the show, she immediately rose to fame. She even landed a role alongside the King of Rock and Roll himself, Elvis Presley, in Easy Come, Easy Go. Before she became an actress, she obtained her degree in Marjorie Webster Junior College. Years later, she became a popular Munster character.

Sadly, Pat decided to retire during the 1980s to focus on other things, and was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 2001. Fortunately, she received treatment and has now recovered. Still, you can’t deny that the name she named for herself will remain as a part of Hollywood history. To this day, she is satisfied with her career. At 83 years old, she’s loving life.

Olivia Newton-John

Olivia Newton-John gets the most credit for her character, Sandy, in the film adaptation of the musical film, Grease. But even before that, she was already making a name for herself in the music industry. However, it was her film with John Travolta that immediately gave her the shot to success. As part of one of the most popular box-office films in history, she was recognized as both an actress and a singer. However, she’s also a songwriter, dancer, entrepreneur and activist.

Recently, she’s been battling with cancer and her efforts to raise awareness and help those with the same condition are deeply appreciated by those she inspires. She was awarded the Order of the British Empire in the 2020 Queen’s New Year Honours List for her contributions to charity, cancer research and entertainment. She has a different understanding of the healthy life she has lost and recovered.

Donna Douglas

During the 1960’s until the early 70’s, the show, The Beverly Hillbillies, became the favorite of many home audiences. The late Donna Douglas played one of its most memorable characters, Elly May Clampett. People immediately recognized her because of her blonde locks and her iconic hairstyle. She made a number of appearances on television which include The Twilight Zone, Checkmate, Tightrope, Thriller, and The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet.

She also had a starring film feature when she was cast as Frankie for Frankie and Johnny which was directed by Fred de Cordova. She starred alongside the legendary Elvis Presley. Aside from acting, Donna also became a singer, author, speaker and even a real estate agent, so you know that she’s good at investment planning. She retired in 2013 after many wonderful years in show business. In 2015, the actress passed away due to pancreatic cancer, but people still look up to her until today.

Dawn Wells

Another star from CBS’ Giligan’s Island is Dawn Wells, who played the character of Mary Ann Summers. She debuted on screen in The Roaring 20’s and The New Interns. Before joining Tina Louise on Giligan’s Island, she was also in other TV shows like The Cheyenne Show, Bonanza, Maverick and 77 Sunset Strip. During her early years, she obtained her education in Stephens College as a Chemistry major. However, she soon transferred to University of Washington to pursue a degree in theater arts and design.

She does humanitarian and social work through her foundation, the Wishing Wells Collection that supports people with physical disabilities. The actress also founded the Idaho Film and Television Institute, which is a non-profit educational organization with the vision to provide quality education for the state of Idaho. Wells also helped organize SpudFest which is an annual and regional family festival. She is also Idaho Potatoes’ spokesperson and an ardent supporter of the Denver Foundation.

Elke Sommer

Elke Sommer was born in Berlin before she moved to the United Kingdom to make a living and develop her English-speaking skills. During her vacation in Italy, she was discovered and was then cast for Italian films beginning in 1958. When she received an offer to pose for a magazine, she called the moving company to transfer to Hollywood. She received a Golden Globe award for her performance in The Prize, but she also had other noteworthy appearances in TV shows and films such as The Oscar, A Shot in the Dark, The Art of Love, and Deadlier than Male where she played the female lead.

In the 90s the stunning actress decided to devote most of her time to painting rather than acting. Did you know that through her work, she was able to learn the native languages of each country that she visited? Needless to say, she made the most of her time in the spotlight.

Natalie Wood

Natalie Wood started her career from a very young age and continued her rise to fame during her teenage years. When she was only 8 years old, she was offered a role in Miracle on 34th Street. Before she even turned 25, she had already caught the attention of critics by earning three Academy Award nominations. Because there weren’t any online classes before, she had to take her school lessons on set. Still, she emerged as a talented, beautiful young woman who kept winning awards for her performances.

In the 70s, Wood started taking breaks from the movie industry to raise her child with Robert Wagner. Throughout the decade, Wood was only seen in two feature films. She also made an appearance in the film Eternity, for which she received a Golden Globe award. Movie critics often cite that Wood represented modern American women who are coming of age. She was filming Brainstorm when she passed away due to an accident.

Jeanne Moreau

Jeanne Moreau was born in Paris, France. Her English mother was a dancer while her French father was a restaurant owner. She made her debut in theater at the Avignon Festival. By the time she hit her 20s, she already established herself as a leading actress in the theater company. She started making appearances in movies through small roles yet continued to perform in theater for a number of years. In the late 50s, she then started making appearances in a string of successful movies.

It was a little later that she began working with up and coming generations of French film auteurs. Moreau worked in many popular avant-garde and New Wave directors. She gained international recognition for her contributions to French New Wave cinema. Since then, Jeanne has won numerous awards such as a Cannes Film Festival Award and a BAFTA Award. She had more inspiring roles throughout her lifetime which gave her credit for all her fantastic performances.

Shirley MacLaine

People these days would recognize Shirley MacLaine for her characters in Downtown Abbey and Steel Magnolias. But even before that, the actress had already been a Hollywood icon during the 60’s. She was nominated for six Academy Awards and won other recognitions that proved the world of her talent. Aside from acting, she’s also a good dancer, singer, author and even an activist. You’ll never know—maybe she’s good at investment planning as well!

The actress made her movie debut in the black comedy The Trouble with Harry, which was directed by Alfred Hitchcock. MacLaine also won an Oscar for Best Actress for her performance in the comedy-drama Terms of Endearment. She has had other notable roles in films, such as Bewitched, Valentine’s Day, The Little Mermaid, and In Her Shoes. MacLaine received many honorary awards. She was presented with the AFI Life Achievement Award and was also honored with the Golden Globe Cecil B. DeMille Award.

Nina Simone

She may not have received a scholarship and a degree from the Curtis Institute of Music, but Nina Simone proved to the world that she did not need one in order to succeed. After being rejected by her dream school, she decided to work hard to train her musical talent. To earn a living, Simone began playing piano at a nightclub in Atlantic City. She is the sixth of eight children and had been able to enroll in the Juilliard School of Music in New York City through the generosity of a number of supporters from her hometown.

Great teamwork, right? It is through their help, too, that Simone continued to succeed. With the recognition she received after the release of “Little Girl Blue”, Simone signed a contract with Colpix Records and went on to become one the industry’s most iconic artists. Throughout her career, she was able to sell millions of albums, which remained beloved to this day.

Bette Davis

Regarded as one of Hollywood’s best actresses, Bette Davis has a 6-decade career that would make anyone proud. Although her usual roles in films were cold and uncaring characters, she proved to the world that she is versatile enough to appear in any film genre, such as crime melodrama, suspense horror and even comedies. Throughout her amazing career, she was critically acclaimed and given credit for her performances. She also became the first person to be nominated for 10 Academy Awards in acting, including 5 consecutive times for Best Actress in the films The Letter, The Little Foxes, and The Star.

In the 70s she became the first woman to be presented with the American Film Institute’s Lifetime Achievement Award. After the famous telecast, Davis found herself sought-after once more, and she secured a role in the miniseries The Dark Secret of Harvest Home. She would later win an Emmy award for the series Strangers: The Story of a Mother and Daughter starring alongside Gena Rowlands.

Vanessa Redgrave

Like many actors in the 60’s, Vanessa Redgrave started her acting career on stage as a theater actress. In 1966, she got her first starring role in a film. Since then, Vanessa continued to impress critics with her talent, frequently getting nominated and winning awards. She gets the most credit for her award-winning role in Camelot and Mission Impossible, but her filmography only proves why she’s regarded as one of the best in the industry. It’s not so surprising, since Vanessa hails from a family of actors. She must be proud to continue her family’s legacy on stage and on screen.

Her other notable works include Isadora, Howards End, The Bostonians, and Mary, Queen of Scots. She also played a part in Miral, a film directed by Julian Schnabel, which was shown at the 67th Venice International Film Festival. Redgrave has also lent her voice to the cartoon character Winnie the Giant Tortoise, in the environmental animated movie Animals United.

Katharine Ross

It’s amazing how dedicated and passionate actresses like Katharine Ross are, who still remain active in the entertainment industry even after decades. She made her movie debut in the drama film Shenandoah. She also played supporting roles in comedies such as The Singing Nun and Mister Buddwing before she was finally cast in Games, which was directed by Curtis Harrington. For her performances, Ross received praises from critics.

The actress had also been honored with a BAFTA nomination and an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress. Aside from these, she was also presented with the Golden Globe award for New Star of the Year. She received further recognition for her performances in a few western movies, such as Tell Them Willie Boy and Butch Cassidy. She was semi-retired by the time the 90s rolled in. However, she did return to the big screen in a memorable appearance in the cult classic Donnie Darko.

Maggie Smith

Everyone loves Maggie Smith and her role as Professor Minerva McGonagall in the film adaptation of J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series. She’s also well known for her role in Downtown Abbey, Much Ado About Nothing, Oh! What a Lovely War and so much more. While she gets more credit for her role as a Hogwarts professor, Maggie Smith is highly praised for her fantastic acting skills in her other works as well, including her admirable support for charity organizations.

She’s so amazing that even the Queen recognizes her as Commander of the Order of the British Empire and named her a Dame. Smith’s other notable roles include parts in films such as Go to Blaze, The Pumpkin Eater, Hot Millions, and Young Cassidy. For her magnetic performance, Smith was able to bag the Academy Award for Best Actress thanks to the movie The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie.

Betty White

Betty White is undoubtedly a golden Hollywood icon. She was once even recognized as the Honorary Mayor of Hollywood. With an incredible career that spans 80 years, she has the longest career of anyone in the entertainment business. The beloved personality is best known for her comedic roles and soon, she became the first woman to ever produce her own sitcom! Even the TV shows she’s a part of, such as The Mary Tyler Moore Show and The Golden Girls got loads of credit, especially for being included in the list of 101 Best Sitcoms of All Time by the Writers Guild of America. What a legend!

Betty White started her career in television back in the 30s after a few months of graduating from high school. White then found herself leading a career in the modeling industry. She started acting on a professional level at the Bliss Hayden Little Theatre. Did you know that she was also a volunteer at the American Women’s Voluntary Services?

Monica Vitti

Monica Vitti is a classic female figure in Italian films, especially during the 60’s. Her debut in the film L’Avventura launched her career to success and made her name popular in the industry. She eventually wanted a change of pace from her serious roles to more comedic ones, so she began working with Mario Monicelli. Throughout her years as an actress, Monica Vitti won numerous awards for her natural talent, including seven Italian Golden Globes! When the actress retired in 1992, her high credit score prevented her from worrying too much financially.

Vitti also starred in her second English movie An Almost Perfect Affair which was directed by Michael Ritchie. In the film, she co-starred alongside Keith Carradine. Vitti didn’t just act, though, she also served as co-writer for a few of her movies. In the 80s, French Culture Minister Jack Lang presented her with the Order of Arts and Letters. Many continue to praise Vitti for helping put Italian films back on the map once more.

Claire Bloom

Claire Bloom started acting at the young age of 15. She started out portraying Shakespearean characters, including Ophelia from Hamlet. Her time in theater helped develop her natural talent and skill. In 1948, she finally got to grace the big screen in the film The Blind Goddess. With decades of films and shows, she’s still as amazing as when she started. Bloom was also in blockbusters such as The King’s Speech, and had even starred in Doctor Who: The End of Time.

Her years as an actress granted her many awards, but also earned her numerous investments for her and her family. The talented actress also held a one-woman show that featured monologues from a number of her performances on stage. She later bagged a starring role in the Broadway revival of The Innocents. The actress had also been featured in a prominent BBC Television production, where she worked with actor Sean Connery for Anna Karenina.

Catherine Deneuve

When Catherine Deneuve started out acting, her characters were mostly cold and mysterious, shaping her image as an intimidating woman. However, in 1985, she won over the French audience as the new face of Marianne, the symbol of liberty in France. She would also later star in English films like Dancer in the Dark and The Musketeer. With all of her hard-earned investment money, she is known to generously support charity organizations and political movements as a philanthropist.

Deneuve was featured in the horror classic Repulsion which was directed by Roman Polanski. She then went on to appear in more prominent projects such as A Matter of Resistance, Mississippi Mermaid, and Les Demoiselles de Rochefort. She stayed active in the European movie scene during the 60s and 70s, then continued to work in American movies. She was even nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in Indochine. In 1992 she was awarded with the Volpi Cup at the Venice Film Festival.

Diana Rigg

Dame Diana Rigg is best known for her role as Emma Peel in the 60’s TV show, The Avengers. It may not be the MCU franchise we’re all familiar with, but her incredible performance earned her name the recognition it deserves. The show aired from 1961 to 1969, but Diana’s acting career continued in the world of theater, where she received three Tony award nominations for her character portrayals. Most recently, she graced the screen as Olenna Tyrell in the popular TV series, Game of Thrones.

Diana Rigg had a wide-ranging career in film and television. She made an appearance in the musical Colette, which was crafted by Harvey Schmidt and Tom Jones. She also played the lead role in the West End production of the musical Follies which was made by Stephen Sondheim. In the 90s, she bagged praises for her roles that were played at the Almeida Theatre situated in Islington.

Pam Grier

A lot of people claim to have a diverse background, but Pam Grier seems to take the crown when it comes to versatility, considering the diverse roles she has portrayed throughout the years. This includes her roles in films such as The Bird Cage, and Foxy Brown. Young people might also recognize her voice from the game Grand Theft Auto and Call of Duty, which she doesn’t get enough credit for. At present, Pam continues her legacy with her roles in TV and film, as well as her advocacies.

Pam Grier is recognized by Quentin Tarantino, among many others, for being the movie industry’s first female action star. She starred in the director’s crime flick Jackie Brown. Thanks to her explosive performance in the film she was able to win a Golden Globe Award, Satellite Award, Screen Actors Guild Award, and Saturn Award nomination for Best Actress. She then appeared in Bones, Jawbreaker, Larry Crowne, Just Wright, and Poms.

Goldie Hawn

Actress and producer, Goldie Hawn, was a memorable face during the 1960’s, especially for her role in Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In. Aside from acting, singing and producing, Goldie Hawn also used her investment money to establish the Hawn Foundation, where she helps and inspires children to improve themselves, especially through programs like MindUp. Unlike other celebrities, it’s nice to know that Goldie is helping future generations to make a difference.

The talented actress also had a starring role in Woody Allen’s musical Everyone Says I Love You. Together with her cast mates from The First Wives Club, Better Midler and Diane Keaton, she was honored at the eWomen in Film Crystal Awards. She also later starred alongside Diane Keaton and Warren Beatty for the comedy film Town & Country. Hawn is also an accomplished author and given her experiences in the industry, she was inspired to write her own autobiography, A Lotus Grows in the Mud.

Jane Seymour

Jane Seymour is another female 60’s icon. Well known for her good looks and acting talent, it was only natural that she was cast as a Bond girl. Some of her most notable films include Somewhere In Time and East of Eden. She was once asked about which role was most memorable role for her, the actress is likely to say that it’s her character in the film Oh! What a Lovely War. This was the actress’ debut film. These days, she is returning the blessings she has received by giving back to the world as an ambassador for Childhelp.

Her philanthropy is well-known and like many of her contemporaries, she also supports many different causes. Seymour has had many different roles throughout the years, but some of her most notable performances were in the films Dear Prudence (2008), the romantic comedy Love, Wedding, Marriage (2011), and the movie Lake Effects (2012).

Valerie Leon

Valerie Leon gets a lot of credit for being a part of the Carry On films. Her beautiful face and talent as an actress brought her recognition and fame. It also earned her roles as a Bond girl in the James Bond films, including The Spy Who Loved Me and Never Say Never Again. She was also a part of films like Revenge of the Pink Panther, The Italian Job, Blood from the Mummy’s Tomb, as well as a few TV shows. She married Michael Mills, a TV comedy producer, until he passed in 1988. Since then, Valerie did not marry again.

She first started as a trainee fashion buyer for Harrods before shifting her sights to performing. In 1965, she auditioned to be part of the touring production of The Belle of New York. This led her to her work as an extra in movies. In 1966, she also appeared alongside Barbra Streisand in the production Funny Girl at the Prince of Wales Theatre in London’s West End.

Isabel Sanford

Isabel Sanford was a Broadway actress for over thirty years before moving to Hollywood. She received numerous credit for appearances on TV, including a stint as a supporting cast member on The Carol Burnett Show. Until her passing, Isabel continued to act frequently, most recently in a series of commercials for Old Navy stores with her The Jeffersons co-star, Sherman Hemsley. In September 2003, Sanford underwent preventive surgery on her carotid artery. In the ensuing months, her health steadily declined.

She was hospitalized again at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center on July 4, 2004, where she passed five days later—a month before her 87th birthday. She had been married to William Edward “Sonny” Richmond, and the two shared a home where they lived in with their three children before they separated. In 1960, she moved with her children to California while Richmond stayed in New York. Isabel later became an active supporter of politics as a Democrat, and even contributed to the presidential campaign of Jesse Jackson in 1988.

Cybill Shepherd

Cybill Shepherd is another multi-talented star during the 60’s. The actress, singer and model was indeed beautiful enough to charm famous actors and personalities such as Elvis Presley, Bruce Willis and Jack Nicholson. While none of these relationships truly flourished, Cybill proved to the world that she doesn’t need a man to succeed. She impressed her audiences with her roles in The Last Picture Show, The Heartbreak Kid, Taxi Driver, Moonlighting, The L Word, Psych, and The Client List.

But even more so, she displayed her wise money management skills when she donated to the National Civil Rights Museum to support her advocacies. Throughout the years, she has also been an outspoken advocate for marriage equality in behalf of same-sex couples. For her activism, she received the National Ally for Equality Award in 2009 from the Human Rights Campaign. She has also supported the National Civil Rights Museum located in her hometown in Memphis, Tennessee.

Claudia Cardinale

A brilliant actress would always seek to expand her horizons and will never be afraid of culturally diverse characters. Claudia Cardinale did just that—transitioning from Italian, English, and British to French films and characters like she’s just changing clothes! It must take a certain degree of talent to be like her! This multilingual actress is known for her movies like Three Strangers in Rome, Napoleone ad Austerlitz, Silver Spoon Set, Zurlini’s Girl with a Suitcase and many more.

Her struggles in her personal life and in the industry only enhanced her passion for her craft, and it still shows in her performances today. In 1995, Cardinale published her autobiography with Anne Mori, titled Io Claudia, Tu Claudia. She has also received prestigious awards such as the honorary Golden Lion at the 1993 Venice Film Festival and the Honorary Golden Bear at the 2002 Berlin Film Festival. Cardinale was also once named one of the 50 most beautiful women in film history by the Los Angeles Time Magazine in February 2011.

Jaclyn Smith

During her younger years, Jaclyn Smith was described as having the face of an angel. Because of that, she was rightfully casted as one of Charlie’s Angels, playing the character, Kelley Garrett. The hit TV series quickly allowed her to widespread popularity. Since then, Jaclyn has been in other films as well, such as Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy, Rage of Angels, George Washington Kaleidoscope, and Nightmare in Delight.

Now, the actress is sharing her beauty tips with women all over the world, dedicating some of her investment money to establish her own skincare line, Jaclyn Smith Beauty. Smith has also since been married four times. First, she was married to actor Roger Davis. After separating in 1975, she married her Charlie’s Angels co-star Dennis Cole, but they went their separate ways in 1981. Later, she married filmmaker Tony Richmond and they ended up parting in 1989. She has since been married to surgeon Brad Allen.

Marilyn Monroe

Decades after her unexpected death, Marilyn Monroe is still one of the most famous pop culture icons in the world. She’s known for being a fashion icon and talent in both acting, and singing. There were numerous efforts to knock her off the title, but Marilyn’s appeal was far too great. She appeared in a few comedy films such as Monkey Business and As Young As You Feel, but she also did dramas such as Don’t Bother to Knock and Clash by Night. Until now, she continues to receive credit for her iconic beauty.

Her private life has also gained much attention from the public. It is known that she struggled with a number of different personal issues. She passed on at a relatively young age of 36 in home in Los Angeles. Even her passing has become a topic for fanfare and even today, there are still many speculations about its real cause.

Honor Blackman

Before her iconic role as Pussy Galore in Goldfinger, Honor Blackman was already a Greek icon—the goddess, Hera, in Jason and the Argonauts. Many years prior to her becoming part of Marvel Cinematic Universe’s The Avengers, she was already part of its TV counterpart as Cathy Gale. She loved acting on screen and on stage, but she’s also a good singer. With all her success, she was able to secure investments such as her Summer House in Maine. She may have retired back in 2015, but her characters will forever live on in the minds of her fans.

She has also been married twice. However, after her second separation in 1975, Blackman has stated that she preferred being single and did not ever remarry. She spent leisure times watching football or enjoying the scenery around her summer house in Iselesboro, Main, in the United States. In April 2020, she passed on from natural causes in her home in Lewes, East Sussex in the United Kingdom.

Carroll Baker

Carroll Baker had one of the most interesting jobs before she pursued acting. She was a magician’s assistant and a professional dancer at a nightclub. She also starred in Winston cigarettes commercials, as well as for Coca-Cola. Carroll’s family was originally from Pennsylvania before they called the moving company and transferred to Florida. Her role in Baby Doll earned her an Oscar and a BAFTA nomination. In the film Giant, she acted alongside James Dean, who later became her good friend. In 2003, Carroll retired as an actress and proceeded to become a writer, producing best-selling books.

Throughout her 50 years as an actress, she has appeared in more than 80 films in film, television, and theater. She has also joined some retrospective documentaries, including one where she talked about how film made an impact on her career. It’s no secret that Carroll has achieved numerous milestones and has worked with some of the industry’s best. Like them, she is also considered an icon by many of her contemporaries.

Susan Sarandon

Years before her rise to fame, Susan Sarandon had to obtain her degree in Drama from The Catholic University of America. Her passion and natural talent for acting led her to be the icon she is now. Her most celebrated works include films such as Joe, Thelma and Louise, and The Rocky Horror Picture Show. However, aside from portraying various characters in movies and TV shows, it seems that the actress doesn’t get enough credit for her social and political activism efforts. Like many other celebrities, she’s recognized as a UNICEF ambassador and continues to support their advocacies until now.

She has received a number of awards such as the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2009 Stockholm International Film Festival and the Outstanding Artistic Life Award for her Outstanding Contribution to World Cinema at the 2011 Shanghai International Film Festival. The actress has also been inducted in the New Jersey Hall of Fame in 2010. She is also a known anti-war activist and a supporter of civil rights causes.

Mary Tyler Moore

What else would Mary Tyler Moore be famous for other than The Mary Tyler Moore Show? The actress turned producer was a memorable face during the 1960’s with thanks to her appearance in many popular shows. She was also in The Dick Van Dyke Show, further adding to her widespread popularity. Sadly, she passed away in 2017 because of a cardiopulmonary arrest. Even before her passing, she has experienced health problems such as diabetes, heart and kidney problems. In her remaining years, however, she spent her investment money to raise funds and awareness of diabetes and later became the International Chairman of JDFR.

She has also supported causes related to history. In 1995, she helped fund the establishment of the a center for Civil War studies for Shepherd College, which later became known as the George Tyler Moore Center for the Study of the Civil War, named after her great-great-great grandfather. The actress also helped finance the renovation of a historic house that once served as headquarters by Confederate Major General Stonewall Jackson.

Ursula Andress

For young people, when you mention the name Ursula, they would automatically think of The Little Mermaid villain. However, for people who grew up during the 60’s, Ursula is a name that belonged to one of the most beautiful women of film and TV. She received the most credit for being the character, Honey Ryder, the first ever Bond girl in the very first James Bond movie, Dr. No. Her voice was dubbed in because of her strong Swiss accent, but she was unforgettable in the film.

Since then, she began to star alongside famous leading men such as Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra and James Dean. Since her divorce from John Derek in 1966, she has been romantically linked with a number of famous actors such as Jean-Paul Belmondo, Fabio Testi, Harry Hamlin, and Fausto Fagone, who would later become a regional assembly member in Sicily. Quite the colorful life for one of Hollywood’s most talented actresses, right?

Mary Badham

Mary Badham is one of the best child actresses of all time. After playing Scout in To Kill a Mockingbird at the age of 10, she received an Oscar nomination—a prestigious award for anyone in the acting business. Mary is the youngest to ever get nominated for an Academy Award. From acting at a very young age, she decided to also retire early and did so in 1966. Despite the early retirement, she did appear in a cameo for the film Our Very Own.

Since retiring from acting, Badham has become an art restorer and a college testing coordinator. She has also traveled around the world to share her experience in making the iconic film To Kill a Mockingbird, while also spreading and expounding on the book’s messages of tolerance and compassion. We may not see her on the small or big screen often, but even her brief stay in the industry made quite an impact on audiences.

Ann Margret

The actress and singer, Ann Margret, may have failed to secure a degree in Northwestern University, but she was successful in pursuing her acting and singing career. During the 1960’s, she was praised for her roles in films such as Bye Bye Birdie, Carnal Knowledge, Viva Las Vegas and The Cincinnati Kid. Because she was so good, she managed to collect five Golden Globe Awards and Emmy Awards. Proving that success and talent was what helped her achieve great heights.

Today, she’s still acting for shows such as Ray Donovan. It must be hard to quit something that she’s passionate about. Although she had no children of her own, she has become stepmother to the three children of her late husband Roger Smith, whom she married in 1967. Prior to that, she was linked romantically to Elvis Presley. Her affair with Presley during the filming of Viva Las Vegas was featured in the 2005 CBS miniseries Elvis.

Jodie Foster

Jodie Foster is an incredible actress. However, before pursuing an acting career, she already started modeling at the young age of 3. Since she started working from such a young age, her skills and talents developed even more when she finally entered the show business as an actress. Her breakthrough role was in Taxi Driver, which remains one of her most notable performances. However, she was received the most acclaim for Silence of the Lambs.

Jodie Foster also gets credit for directing episodes of the hit Netflix shows Orange is the New Black, Black Mirror and House of Cards, which are all critically acclaimed as masterpieces. She has become one of the most iconic actresses of her generation. In fact, she was named the Most Beautiful Woman in the World in 1992 by People magazine. She was inducted in the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2016. An asteroid called Asteroid 17744 Jodiefoster was even named in her honor.

Tina Louise

Tina Louise is best known for her role in Giligan’s Island. Before receiving her breakthrough role in God’s Little Acre, she was already quite an established theatrical actress. After playing Griselda in God’s Little Acre, she was honored with a Golden Globe Award. Since then, she has appeared in various TV shows and films such as The Trap, For Those Who Think Young, The Happy Ending, Day of the Outlaw, The Stepford Wives and The Wrecking Crew.

She is also a known supporter of her advocacies, actively donating her investment money to help improve children’s literacy through various programs, aside from doing volunteer work. She is lifetime member of the Actors Studio and a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. She has also written three books, including Sunday: A Memoir, which was published in 1997. She has also been active in politics as a registered Democrat, having supported the presidential campaign of John F. Kennedy.

Jane Fonda

Jane Fonda is not only an actress; she’s also an author, model, activist and businesswoman. She debuted her acting career on stage in There Was a Little Girl, for which she earned a Tony award nomination. On screen, she debuted in the film Tall Story. Throughout the years, she has had many notable roles, including in movies such as Sunday in New York, Barefoot in the Park, Barbarella, Cat Ballou, and Period of Adjustment. She also received critical acclaim and two Academy awards for her performance in Klute and Coming Home.

Before the emergence of online classes, Jane was already teaching fitness through her exercise videos. She was also involved in numerous charities, environmental and socio-political movements. She is perhaps best known for being one of the most visible icons of the counterculture era during the Vietnam War. These days, she is among the most outspoken environmental activists, even going as far as being arrested three times in consecutive weeks protesting climate change outside the United States Capitol in 2019.

Shirley Knight

From the year 1959, Shirley Knight has never left the show business. Even at her age of 83, she still continues to wow audiences with her performances. Her filmography alone is impressive enough, but Shirley also gets credit for her appearances in both TV and Broadway shows. She is beloved for her roles in movies like The Dark at the Top of the Stairs, Sweet Bird of Youth and Dutchman. She received many awards for her onscreen performances, as well as a Tony award for her role in Kennedy’s Children. It’s not surprising that many look up to her.

She was nominated for the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Play twice for her work in Landscape of the Body and The Young Man from Atlanta. She also appeared in the television film Indictment: The McMartin Trial for which she won both the Emmy Award for Outstanding Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie and the Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in Series, Mini-series or Motion Picture Made for Television.

Maureen McCormick

From 1969 to 1974, most American households were tuned in to the hit TV series, The Brady Bunch. The show is where Maureen McCormick earned much recognition for her character, Marcia Brady. Since then, she kept appearing for its reboots, such as The Brady Bunch Kids, The Brady Bunch Hour, The Brady Brides and A Very Brady Christmas. With her good girl image as Marcia during her early 20’s, the actress, singer and author later experienced a downfall in her career due to personal issues.

Years later, she recovered and has displayed wiser money management since then. Now, she’s inspiring the world with her story through her book. In 2008, she released her autobiography titled Here’s the Story: Surviving Marcia Brady and Finding My True Voice, which debuted at number four on The New York Times bestseller list, where it stayed for three weeks. She has also appeared in a number of reality television series such as I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here and Dancing with the Stars.

Jacqueline Bisset

Jacqueline Bisset is another 60’s personality who rose to fame during the 1960’s. She may already be in her 70s, but her looks continue to prove to the world her beauty is timeless. With all her elegance and grace, it would be no surprise if she had found a worthy skincare investment. But what’s more impressive about the actress is her consistently amazing performance in every film she appears in, such as The Deep, Murder on the Orient Express and Airport. Internationally, Jacqueline is also recognized in France as a Légion D’Honneur recipient.

Although she has never married, she has been romantically linked with a number of her fellow actors such as French-Canadian actor Michael Sarrazin, Moroccan real estate magnate Victor Drai, Russian dancer Alexander Godunov, Swiss actor Vincent Perez, and Turkish martial arts instructor Emin Boztepe. These days, she remains one of Hollywood’s most iconic actresses and she continues to appear in various projects.

Shirley Jones

In the world of musicals, Shirley Jones is ranked among the greatest performers in history. With her stunning voice, she impressed the world by taking on the lead roles in Rodgers and Hammerstein’s film adaptation of Oklahoma! Since then, Jones kept starring in other musicals such as Carousel, April Love, and The Music Man. However, the actress proved she could play serious characters as well, which she showed off through her role in Elmer Gantry, she even won an Academy Award for her performance.

There aren’t enough online classes to learn the secrets of an icon like Shirley Jones. In the end, no one can replace decades of expertise and passion. The actress is also known for her high-profile marriages with actor-singer Jack Cassidy and comedian-actor Marty Ingels, who remained her husband until he passed on. In an autobiography, she wrote about her unlikely love story with Marty despite their different personalities. She entitled the memoir Shirley & Marty: An Unlikely Love Story.

Aretha Franklin

One of the biggest names in the music industry is Aretha Franklin. The singer-songwriter began by singing gospel songs in a church. Her successful music career didn’t start immediately, however, but her fame skyrocketed when she signed with Atlantic Records in 1966. She gets credit as The Queen of Soul, and her songs are still famous worldwide. Titles such as Think, (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman, I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Loved You), Chain of Fools, Respect, and I Say a Little Prayer are just some of her famous songs.

Sadly, the music icon passed in 2018 from a pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor. Aretha was born to a singer-songwriter mom and Baptist minister dad. She was not only a talented vocalist, but she also learned to play the piano by ear. Her father didn’t just support her dream, he also helped her until she was finally landed a recording deal.

Elizabeth Taylor

Dubbed as one of the most beautiful women of all time, Elizabeth Taylor was an actress, businesswoman, and humanitarian. She debuted her acting career in the film, There’s One Born Every Minute and continued to appear in other movies such as Father of the Bride and A Place in the Sun. She rose to fame with her role as Cleopatra. Decades after, the film is still one of the most memorable Hollywood productions of all time. The actress continued to star in a string of other blockbusters, including The Sandpiper, The Taming of the Shrew, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf, and The VIPs.

With her success, she didn’t need small business loans to start her fragrance and jewelry business. Elizabeth Taylor was born to socially prominent American parents in London. But in 1939, her family moved to Los Angeles so she could pursue a minor role in a movie. However, she was offered a contract with Metro-Goldwyn-Meyer, which changed everything for her. Following this, she became a teenage sensation and the rest is history.

Meredith MacRae

No one else can pull off the simple yet classy look like actress and singer Meredith MacRae. She was best known as Sally Morrison in My Three Sons and Petticoat Junction’s Billie Jo Bradley. She had more appearances on television rather than film, but it still made her a personality you can’t miss when you talk about Hollywood icons. Because of her success, she was able to secure investments such as her Manhattan Beach home.

Unfortunately, at the age of 56, Meredith MacRae passed because of brain cancer complications. Even after her death, the show business still considers her as one of its crowning jewels. She was born in Houston, Texas, to singer-actors Shiela and Gordon MacRae. She has three other siblings, and they were all raised to have proper working ethics with their feet on the ground despite having celebrity parents. According to Meredith, they lived modestly in San Fernando Valley instead of residing in Beverly Hills even when the family could have afforded a home there too.

Dusty Springfield

The Swinging Sixties would not have been complete without the blue-eyed soul that is Dusty Springfield. Aside from her voice, she became iconic because of her flamboyant hairstyle, heavy makeup, and fancy gowns. Before she even pursued a solo career, she was a part of the group, The Lana Sisters, and eventually, The Springfields with her brothers. In 1963, she started her solo career and popularized songs such as I Just Don’t Know What To Do With Myself, Son of a Preacher Man, You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me, and I Only Want To Be With You.

Despite not having a degree in music, Dusty is still an icon in the music industry. Born Mary Isobel Catherine Bernadette O’Brien in West Hampstead on April 16, 1939, she is the second child of Gerard Anthony O’Brien and Catherine Anne O’Brien, who are both Irish. She was nicknamed Dusty because of her hobby of playing football with boys. She later adopted it as her name professionally, while she and her brother adopted a new surname, which is Springfield.

Dionne Warwick

Dionne Warwick is another gem in the music industry. She has won six Grammy Awards for her songs like Do You Know The Way to San Jose, I’ll Never Fall In Love Again, I’ll Never Love This Way Again, Déjà vu, and That’s What Friends Are For. She made her debut with Scepter Records and they released her first single, Don’t Make Me Over, in 1962. However, despite her success, she filed for bankruptcy in 2013. Just a few years later, in 2015, she was hospitalized and underwent ankle surgery.

Thankfully, she recovered and remains active at present. She most recently sang for a benefit concert in 2017. Born as Marie Dionne Warrick, which she later changed to Warwick, she was raised in East Orange by her parents, Lee Drinkard and Mancel Warrick, together with her sister and brother. Her mother was the manager of The Drinkard Singers, the known American gospel singing group in the ’50s. At the same time, her father was a Pullman porter, record promoter, chef, and a CPA.

Carole King

Since 1958, Carole King has blessed the world with her inspired music. She and her husband, Gerry Goffin, have written numerous chart-topping hits during the 1960’s. Overall, she has written and co-written about 118 of the world’s favorite songs. The Dream Team of Goffin and King met at Queens College, where both of them thrived on finishing their college degree. The couple married in 1959 and later wrote the classics that everyone fell in love with.

Later on, King pursued a solo career and hit stardom with her album Tapestry, which gained four Grammy Awards, such as Album of the Year, among others. King was considered one of the most successful female songwriters in the latter half of the 20th century. In the U.K. alone, 61 of her written songs hit charts, making her the most successful female songwriter in the nation between 1962 and 2005. In fact, her solo album, Tapestry, held the longest record by a female artist, placing #1 for more than 20 years.

Ella Fitzgerald

Ella Fitzgerald is an important icon in the music industry. She has gained a number of titles throughout the years, including the Queen of Jazz, First Lady of Song, and even Lady Ella. Once you hear her sing, you’ll understand why she’s befitting all those titles and so much more. She retired in 1993, after 60 years of being in the music industry. Sadly for music fans all over the world, she passed away a few years later at the age of 79. There’s no doubt that Fitzgerald still possesses a degree of influence in the industry because of her impressive legacy.

Throughout her amazing career, she earned fourteen Grammy Awards and even a Presidential Medal of Freedom. What an incredible talent this American jazz singer was! She was particularly praised for the purity of her tone and horn-like improvisational ability, timing, and intonation. Her best-known songs includes Cheek to Cheek, It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing), and Dream a Little Dream of Me.

Marie Osmond

Marie Osmond was part of a performing family, but she eventually decided to pursue a solo career in the ’70s. Her first solo hit was Paper Roses, which became extremely successful. A lot of people don’t know this, but she is also an amazing businesswoman and author. Unfortunately, she went through some difficulties in her personal life when she experienced postpartum depression due to a bad reaction to a medication she was taking. In 2010, she also had to hire a lawyer to help her get rid of media scrutiny following her son passed away.

Osmond was born to a family of nine children in Ogden, Utah, and she was the eighth and the only daughter of Olive May and George Virl Osmond. Her brothers maintained a career in showbiz from an early age. They performed on national TV and achieved widespread success. Osmond’s mother persuaded the then young Marie to try her hand at singing, too, and as luck would have it, she was a natural.

Barbara Feldon

She was born Barbara Anne Hall in Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, on March 12, 1933. But she grew up in Pittsburg and received training from the performing arts at Pittsburg Playhouse. In 1955, the talented actress graduated from Carnegie Mellon University with a degree in Bachelor of Arts in Drama. Barbara Feldon is a timeless beauty. She reached her career peak during the 60s and became well-known for her character in Get Smart, as Agent 99. Aside from acting, Barbara is also a TV show host, model, and writer.

Back then, she made numerous appearances on TV shows, and her roles in movies were always met with high praise. Fun fact: another thing she gets credit for is her great mascara technique that makes her eyes stand-out. Now, at 86, the actress refuses to retire from her beloved career. Instead, she continues to inspire other actors in the industry with her expertise. 

Etta Jones

Etta Jones is one of the best jazz singers of all time. During the 60’s, she popularized songs such as Don’t Go to Strangers, Something Nice, So Warm, Lonely and Blue, Hollar!, Love Shout, From the Heart, and Save Your Love For Me. Throughout her career, she has performed with other musicians and singers like Milt Jackson, Houston Person, Cedar Walton, Earl Hines, Buddy Johnson, Barney Bigard, and Kenny Burrell. Together, they produced wonderful hits that still remain as favorites even to this day.

Someone with an impressive music career like hers must consider their voice as her primary investment, and we wouldn’t be too surprised if she has gone to great lengths to maintain her powerful vocals. She has received countless accolades across the years, her name alone has become synonymous with jazz. Three of her most popular songs earned her Grammy nominations, and she was also later inducted into the Grammy’s Hall of Fame.

Debbie Reynolds

It’s rare to see an artist stay dedicated to their craft for 70 years, but Debbie Reynolds has proven that it’s possible. She was born in El Paso, Texas, on April 1, 1932, as Mary Frances Reynolds but went on to go by professionally as Debbie Reynolds. The singer, actress, and businesswoman got her first and breakout role in Singin’ In the Rain. Her other notable films include Three Little Words, Susan Slept Here, The Catered Affair, Bundle of Joy, and The Affairs of Dobie Gillis.

Aside from her acting career, she also served as the president of an organization that supports Mental Health Causes called The Thalians. There was also a time when Reynolds was forced to declare bankruptcy after failed business ventures, but she managed to turn things around.  As they say, you can’t keep a good woman down. In fact, she was once quoted for saying that she wanted to be the world’s oldest living Girls Scout.

Anne Bancroft

Anne Bancroft is one of the best actresses during her time. Widely respected for her versatile acting and natural talent, she was often recognized by critics and awarded with accolades such as the Academy Award, two Emmy Awards, two Golden Globes, and three BAFTA awards. She started off as a Broadway actress, like many others, before transitioning into on-screen roles. During the 60’s, she gained even more recognition for her character in The Graduate. Her married life is just as colorful and she ended up marrying Mel Brooks, with whom she stayed until she died in 2005.

Other than her jobs in front of the camera, Anne was also recognized for her works behind the scenes as screenwriter and director. As an actress, she was widely popular in the 50s, but still attracted attention through the 80s and 90s. Bancroft continued to act and land prominent roles even in the latter half of her life.

Mia Farrow

Mia Farrow has a natural knack for film and acting, and this is probably because her parents were both in the same field. Her father was an Australian director and her mother was an Irish actress. However, aside from appearing in over 50 movies, Mia is also an activist and former fashion model. Because of her outstanding performances, she was nominated for both the Golden Globes and BAFTA awards. At the age of 21, Farrow married the music icon, Frank Sinatra, but they parted ways a few years later.

She had worked with directors such as Woody Allen but called for her lawyer’s assistance after trouble arose between them. Mia is known for the immense work she puts into UNICEF as one of their Goodwill Ambassadors. Included in her advocacies are humanitarian activities in countries like Darfur, Chad, and the Central African Republic, where more help is needed. She was also named by Time magazine as one of the most influential people in the world in 2008.

Tippi Hedren

Before she was discovered by Alfred Hitchcock and became an actress, Tippi Hedren was a successful fashion model. She debuted as a fashion model when she was only a teenager, when she joined department store fashion shows. When she turned 20, she bought a ticket to New York and joined the Eileen Ford Agency. Shortly after, she made her theatrical acting debut in the musical comedy, The Petty Girl as Miss Ice Box.

Hedren graced the pages of magazines before she appeared on screen. When she finally made it to the big screen, she was received quite well by her audiences, especially with her roles in The Birds, Marnie, A Countess from Hong Kong, Citizen Ruth, and I Heart Huckabees. With her investment money and influence, she decided to support animal rights advocacies. Her projects, such as the Shambala Preserve, sought to protect wild animals, and Tippi even adopted some of them, including Michael Jackson’s Bengal tigers, Sabu and Thriller.

Janet Leigh

Janet Leigh was only eighteen years old when Norma Shearer discovered her. Once she had secured a contract with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, she started to appear in films, debuting in The Romance of Rosy Ridge. Since then, she has appeared in other films such as Naked Spur, Scaramouche, Act of Violence, Angels in the Outfield, Living It Up, and Little Women. But before she started acting, she first attended the College of the Pacific, where she hoped to obtain a degree in music and psychology.

To add to her already successful career, the singer-actress also wrote books and novels under her name. Her first book was released in 1984, this was her memoir There Really Was a Hollywood, which became a New York Times bestseller. Her second was released in 1995, and it was a non-fiction book she titled Psycho: Behind the Scenes of the Classic Thriller. After which, she published her first-ever fiction novel House of Destiny. The success of her first novel spawned a sequel, The Dream Factory, published and released in 2002.

Barbara Steele

What happens when you take one of the most beautiful actresses of the 1960’s and cast her in Italian horror films? This formula turned out to be a success for Barbara Steele, especially for her performance in Black Sunday. Her other successful Italian films include The Ghost, Castle of Blood, The Horrible Dr. Hitchcock, Nightmare Castle, The Long Hair of Death, and Terror-Creatures from the Grave. Despite being part of several Italian films, she was actually born in the UK, where she studied and pursued a degree at the Chelsea Art School before moving to Paris to study at the Sorbonne.

Steele also appeared in several other films in the 2010s, with an outstanding performance in a lead role in the Italian thriller-horror, The Butterfly Room, and a supporting role in the 2014 mystery drama Lost River directed by Ryan Gosling. The British film actress also worked on TV in the miniseries Dark Shadows.

Vera Miles

Famously known for her role as Lila Crane in Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho and Psycho II, the retired actress Vera Miles is certainly unforgettable. Because of her looks and her acting skills, she was a film favorite in the 60’s. She was also the favorite of director and producer Alfred Hitchcock, whom she worked with for a long time. After her long career in movies and TV, the actress decided to retire in 1995. Since then, Vera has kept her life very private. With all her success, there’s no doubt that she’s still enjoying the benefits of her wise investments.

Some of her notable films include Tarzan’s Hidden Jungle, The Wrong Man, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, Follow Me, Boys!, Sargeant Ryker, A Touch of Larceny, and Molly and Lawless John. Today, she lives peacefully in Palm Desert, California, and maintains the serenity of her private life by steering clear from the media.

Sharon Tate

Sharon Tate was one of the most beautiful faces ever to grace show business. Because of her beauty and style, she became the favorite of fashion magazines and appeared in many different covers. After her debut in 1961 in Barabbas, her career only progressed for the better. Soon after, she was considered as one of the most promising newcomers during her time. Unfortunately, the actress tragically passed away in 1969. Even today, her demise remains infamous. This led to her husband’s paranoia, and soon, he gave away all his possessions and investments that reminded him of the incident.

Since then, Sharon’s mother has devoted her life to protect victims’ rights. She was hailed as Hollywood’s most promising newcomer because of her remarkable comedic and dramatic acting skills that received critical acclaim despite her small roles. An interesting fact: Tate had a habit of going out in public barefoot and just wearing a rubber band on her ankles to create the illusion that she’s wearing a sandal. A habit of hers that was referenced in the 2019 movie Once Upon A Time in Hollywood.

Liv Ullman

Norwegian actress and film director Liv Ullman had a difficult childhood. With her father constantly being needed as an aircraft engineer, her family frequently called the moving company to transfer homes. When he passed away because of a brain tumor, her family had to find a way to support themselves. So in the mid-1950s, Ullman began to act on stage. However, she received the most recognition for being the muse of legendary Swedish movie director, Ingmar Bergman. The actress worked with him for 10 of his films.

Some of these include The Passion of Anna, Cries and Whispers, Autumn Sonata, and Persona. In 1971, she won a Golden Globe for her role in The Emigrants. Aside from these, she is also noted for her portrayal of Nora in the three-act play A Doll’s House by Henrik Ibsen. She remains one of the most memorable actresses of her time and even today, many actresses still look up to Ullman.

Anouk Aimée

At a young age of 14, Anouk already began to charm the world with her smile and impress her audience with her acting skills. She is also well-known for her elegant looks and timeless beauty. In fact, in 1995, Empire Magazine added her to their list of most alluring stars in film history, and she definitely deserves the spot she had been given. However, she gets the most credit for her roles in films like A Man and a Woman, A Leap in the Dark, Justine, Le Rideau Cramoisi, and many more. Her collection of acting awards is proof of her acting prowess.

The French actress does films mostly in her native language, but she has also done films based in Spain, Great Britain, Germany, and Italy. Some of her notable acting performances were in La Dolce Vita, from which she started to rise to prominence. She also landed roles in 8 ½, Lola, Justine, Tragedy of a Ridiculous Man, and Prêt à Porter.

Shelley Winters

Shelley Winters was one of those dedicated actresses who pursued their passion continuously. Her career spanned almost 60 years. Throughout her years as an actress, she earned Academy Awards and various other nominations, especially for her role in The Diary of Anne Frank and A Patch of Blue. Her other notable works includes A Place in the Sun, The Poseidon Adventure, Lolita, Pete’s Dragon, A Double Life, Alfie and The Night of the Hunter. Before she became an actress, her family had to call a moving company to transfer to New York, where she worked as a model.

In 1941, she debuted as a Broadway actress and soon became renowned for her performances. She had also written and published three autobiographical books. One of which revealed how her much-publicized romance with Farley Granger became a long-term friendship in the long run for both actors. Though the award-winning actress was married four times, she did end up finding her happily ever after.

Tina Turner

Tina Turner is a legend in the music industry. Aside from being a singer-songwriter, she’s also a dancer, producer, and actress. Her energetic stage presence and iconic voice made her one of the best-selling artists of all time. She was given credit as The Queen of Rock and Roll, selling out 200 million records worldwide. Turner was also part of the Ike and Tina Turner duo, and they popularized songs like Proud Mary, River Deep—Mountain High, A Fool in Love, and Nutbush City Limits.

Throughout her career, she had won 12 Grammy awards and even The Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. In the 1980s, following the close of the Ike and Tina Turner duo, she launched one of the best comebacks in music history. Her Let’s Stay Together cover singer hit European chart, ranking #6 in the U.K., #26 on the Billboard Hot 100, and #1 on the Hot Dance Club Songs.

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