Lauren Bacall
While many women have dazzling looks, not many also have a seductive voice to match. Lauren Bacall shared both of these traits, and was named the 20th greatest female star of classic Hollywood cinema. In 1996, she received an Academy Award for her performance in ‘The Mirror Has Two Faces’.
The actress was a staunch liberal Democrat and devoted much of her public status to promote various political causes. She was also a model and often appeared in popular magazines such as Harper’s Bazaar and Vogue. The actress passed away in mid-2014, a month before her 90th birthday.
Vivien Leigh
Not many actresses can claim that their biggest flaw is being too beautiful, but that’s exactly what happened to Vivien Leigh. The young and talented star was often overlooked when it came to her acting abilities, simply because people saw her first and foremost for her looks.
Her most famous film appearances to date were in 'Gone with the Wind' and 'A Streetcar Named Desire', which are some of the most iconic and legendary films from the 20th century. Unfortunately, the actress and performer died from tuberculosis in 1967, but her Hollywood legacy lives on even today.
Sharon Tate
Fans of Sharon Tate will forever remember her story as a tragic one. The talented and beautiful actress led a very troubled life, which included marrying famous director and fugitive sex-offender, Roman Polanski. In 1969, Tate was murdered in cold blood by members of the Manson Family.
What makes her death even more tragic is that the actress was due to give birth at the time, and was nearly nine months pregnant. She is still talked about in entertainment circles today, and is remembered for her astonishing beauty, supreme acting skills and horrendous fate.
Barbara Eden
Barbara Eden was born in 1931 and remains a beloved personality in Hollywood even today. The actress is known for starring as "Jeannie" in the sitcom 'I Dream of Jeannie'. The show revolved around a 2,000-year-old genie (played by Eden) and an astronaut who falls in love with her.
Rumor has it that producers originally wanted a brunette for the show so that viewers would easily be able to tell the difference between it and its main competitor at the time - popular fantasy sitcom 'Bewitched'. However, they simply fell for Eden and just had to give her the role.
Claudia Cardinale
You may recall Claudia Cardinale from the original 'The Pink Panther' film, back in 1963. She is an Italian-Tunisian actress who appeared in some of the most highly-acclaimed European films of the '60s and the '70s. She originally rose to fame as “The Most Beautiful Italian Girl in Tunisia.”
Earlier in her career, the actress didn’t get to have her voice heard much, since it was often dubbed by other women. Eventually, her stardom grew to such levels that fans demanded to hear it! Cardinale is an avid women’s rights activist, and has been a UNESCO goodwill ambassador since 2000.