10. Joan Fontaine.
There's just something about Joan. Her immense talent, her subtle sexiness, her perpetually arched eyebrows, her habit of biting her bottom lip, her poised demeanor which masks her fiery spirit. One need only watch one film to fall head over heals for this beauty. Hitchcock's "Rebecca" earned Joan her the respect of audiences, critics, and fellow actors alike. It also earned her her first Academy Award nomination and it's no question as to why.
9. Rita Hayworth.
Who doesn't love a gal who's cute, sexy, and famous for the best onscreen striptease of all time? In movies like "Gilda" and "The Lady from Shanghai", Rita showed off her acting chops as well as her glorious figure. As with many of the Hollywood greats, she suffered severely in her personal life. Her battle with Alzheimer's brought the disease to the public eye which eventually led to more funding and research to find a cure.
8. Greer Garson.
Greer was a true grand dame of the silver screen. When she left the British stage to star in film, she maintained an air of integrity and charm unmatched by many of her fellow actresses. Her performances in "Mrs. Miniver", "Pride and Prejudice", "Random Harvest", "Goodbye Mr. Chips", and "Madame Curie" are what made her truly legendary.
7. Grace Kelly.
Her name certainly suits her. Grace, beauty, allure, sensuality--she had all the makings of princess and a sex symbol. Her career only lasted 5 years, boasting just 10 films, but her impact was great. She was Hitchcock's all-time favorite leading lady, starring her in three of his films. In her final Hitchcock film, "To Catch a Thief", her appeal is undeniable. She's cute, smart, sassy, and sexy, much like the lady herself.
6. Ava Gardner.
Mostly Ava Gardner is fun to look at. She may very well be one of the most beautiful women of all time. And although her acting always seemed a bit low brow, she never claimed to be a great talent. Yet she is responsible for one of films most sensual moments. In "Barefoot Contessa", while she dances with the gypsies and then espies the man of her dreams, my heart always skips a beat--as I'm sure did hers. She had a great wit and spirit that made her a fascinating lady.
5. Norma Shearer.
Norma is fairly unknown to most members of my generation, and even to those of my parents' generation, but she was the biggest star at MGM in the late '20s and early '30s. She was nominated for 6 Academy Awards (2 in the same year)! MGM's "First Lady" and a reputed "goodie-two-shoes" wowed audiences when she stepped out of her comfort zone to play sexpots in "The Divorcee" and "A Free Soul. Although not a beauty in the classic sense, the lady who brought us the original Mary Haines from the original "The Women" (sorry Meg Ryan, but you are no match for Ms. Shearer) possessed an undeniable magnetism rarely seen today.
4. Katharine Hepburn.
What list of classic actresses would be complete without this gem? With a career spanning 62 years, she graced the screen with unforgettable comedic performances in some of my favorite movies like "Stage Door", "Bringing up Baby", "The Philadelphia Story", and "Adam's Rib". Yet she could also touch us with her intense dramatic performances in "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?", "The Lion in Winter", and "On Golden Pond". It wasn't until just last year that Meryl Streep tied her for leading role actress nominations. Still, no actress of the present can touch this woman in style, success, and character. This woman lived by her own rules and we could all learn a lot from her.
3. Marlene Dietrich.
There is no denying that Dietrich had "it". She was beautiful, exotic, talented, and mysterious. She tested the conventions of 1930s society by dressing in men's suits and pursuing very public affairs with other women. One need only watch her delightful performances in "Morocco", "Shanghai Express", and "Blonde Venus" to witness how ahead of her time Dietrich was.
2. Joan Crawford.
I fell in love with Joan Crawford when I saw her stellar performance in "Mildred Pierce". From the moment she double slaps her onscreen daughter, I was hooked. I went back and watched every single one of her nearly 100 films. Truthfully, there are two Joans: there is the sweet bright eyed ingenue who loved to dance in her films of the '20s and '30s. And there is the strong, sexy, no bullshit, shoulder-pad-wearing dame of the '40s-'60s. "Mommie Dearest" be damned! That is not the true Joan Crawford. Regrettably, most of the public only know Joan as the crazed child abuser her bitter adopted daughter painted her to be. What many people don't know is that she was a star of stars. She loved what she did and did it well. She was generous, insecure, and a dear in the truest sense.
1. In Hollywood, there are many comparisons between actors of today and those of yesteryear. George Clooney is the new Cary Grant. Brad Pitt is the new Robert Redford. Susan Sarandon is the Betty Davis of our time. Gwenyth Paltrow is the new Grace Kelly. But there will only ever be ONE Garbo. It's blasphemous to even attempt to draw a comparison. Those huge, soulful eyes...that glorious velvety voice... She is the epitome of talent and beauty. When audiences fell in love with her in silent films like "The Flesh and the Devil" and "A Woman of Affairs", they didn't think it could get any better. But when she uttered her first line in "Anna Christie" their mouths dropped open and their pulses quickened. Her acting reached a new level with sound. She was able to reach inside viewers and grab their hearts. When I watched her in my favorite of her films, "Camille", she did just that. During her death scene, it was as if you could see the exact moment when life left her body. I can't think of any other actress who has the ability to exact that sort of performance and to stir audience's emotions like that. No. There will never be another Garbo.
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