31 Beautiful Old Hollywood Actresses – Old Hollywood Glamour at it’s Best
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Stunning Old Hollywood Actresses and their impact on Vintage Fashion including 1930s fashion, 1940s fashion, and 1950s fashion.
Looking for some serious Old Hollywood Glam inspiration?
Look no further, here are 31 stunning beautiful Old Hollywood actresses from Hollywood’s Golden Age.
A number of actresses from the golden age of Hollywood had an impact on fashion and were fashion icons during the 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s.
Hollywood’s golden age is estimated to be between the years 1927 – 1969.
From the 1930s-1950s here are 31 stunning Old Hollywood Actresses that influenced fashion.
We roughly organized the actresses during the time period they were most popular, although of course, some were popular across a couple of decades.
Keep reading to get a overview on their notable roles and fashion.
1930s Old Hollywood Actresses
The great depression was in full swing, the 1930s was a rough time for the United States.
So what did people do to forget about their circumstances?
Go to the movies, of course.
The silver screen was the perfect escapism from reality.
The 1930s films were glamorous and let one dream about something other than losing their job.
Here are some of the popular Old Hollywood actresses during the 1930s.
Old Hollywood Actresses #1: Hedy Lamarr
Born in Austria, Hedy Lamarr was an accomplished inventor and actress.
She moved to the United States and rose to popularity during the 1930s and 1940s.
Known for:
- Notable roles in movies like Samson and Deliliah (1949)
- Being coined the “world’s most beautiful woman”
- Being an woman inventor who’s ideas didn’t receive credit until later including “frequency hopping” which is the precursor to Wi-Fi.
Old Hollywood Actresses #2. Carole Lombard
Carole Lombard was a stunning old hollywood actress popular during the the 1920s and 1930s.
She became known for her screwball comedies.
Known for:
- Notable roles in screwball comedies like My Man Godrey, To Be or Not to Be, and Mr. and Mrs. Smith
- Being married to Clark Gable before her tragic death in a plane crash when she was only 33 years old
Notable vintage 1930s fashion
She rocked vintage glam to full effect in evening wear, with slinky dresses topped with fur.
Her casual style was equally chic, whether in shorts or pants, not yet common in the 1930s.
We love how she topped her slacks outfit with a fur coat, taking a simple outfit to glam.
Old Hollywood Actresses #3. Vivien Leigh
Vivien Leigh was a British actress who was popular during the 1930s but really rose to popularity after her most famous role as Scarlett o’Hara in Gone with the Wind.
Known for:
- Won two Academy Awards, for her role in the movies Gone with the Wind and a Streetcar named Desire.
Vintage 1930s fashion
Her role in Gone with The Wind influence 1940s dresses but off-screen she seemed to favor simpler styles.
We love her simple slacks and blouse outfit in the top left photo.
Old Hollywood Actresses #4. Jean Harlow
Jean Harlow was one of the original “blonde bombshell” types that Hollywood would cast thinking they would be popular.
She was known for usually playing the “bad girl” characters in movies, and was extremely popular during her short-lived movie career.
She tragically died at the age of only 26 due to kidney failure.
Known for:
- Playing the bad girl in a number of movies
- Being one of the first “Blonde bombshell” types
Vintage 1930s Fashion
Jean Harlow was full-on vintage glam style, often wearing slinky, floor length evening gowns that showed off her curvy figure.
We also love her classic trousers outfit.
Old Hollywood Actresses #5. Marlene Dietrich
Marlene Dietrich a was famous German American actress and performer with a long career on stage and in movies.
Known for:
- Her stage presence and movies
- Pioneering pants for women
Vintage 1930 and 1940s fashion
Marlene Dietrich is best remembered for her sexy pantsuits, making men’s clothes at the time look glamorous on a woman
Old Hollywood Actresses #6. Mary Astor
Mary Astor was an actress with a long career who managed to make the transition from silent films to talkies.
Known for:
- Notable roles in movies opposite Humphrey Bogart like The Maltese Falcon
- Won an Academy Award for her role in The Great Lie
Old Hollywood Actresses #7. Mae West
Mae West had an accomplished career as an actress, singer and screenwriter that lasted decades from the 1920s until 1980.
Known for:
- Being one of the most controversial movie stars at the time
- Her witty humor in real life and in her movies
“I believe in censorship. I made a fortune out of it.” – Mae West
Old Hollywood Actresses #8. Greta Garbo
Greta Garbo was a Swedish actress who is considered one of the greatest actresses of all time.
She started her career in the 1920s and successfully made the transition to sound movies.
She avoided the public life and led a very private life.
Old Hollywood Actresses #9. Claudette Colbert
The American actress Claudette Colbert led a long career starting in the 1920s and starring in over 60 films.
She reached popularity in the 1930s and 1940s.
Known for:
– Won an Academy Award for her role in It Happened One Night
Vintage 1930s Fashion
She had a glam 1930s style, and even had recommendations for how to dress glam on a budget.
Some of her advice included not saving on cheap shoes, but saving on hosiery.
Dresses could be dressed up with good shoes, but a tailored suit shouldn’t be cheap.
Old Hollywood Actresses #10. Myrna Loy
Myrna Loy was an American Actress who was very popular in the 1930s and 1940s.
Known for:
- Roles in movies like the Thin Man series opposite William Powell
- Movies opposite Cary Grant Like The Bachelor and the Bobby Soxer and Mr Blandings Builds His Dream House
Vintage 1930s and 1940s fashion
Watch her films for some classic vintage 1930s and 1940s fashion.
We love her vintage glam 1930s dresses that she rocks.
She talked in an interview about stressing good fabric and simplicity in fashion.
1940s Old Hollywood Actresses
World War II had an influence on 1940s films, with the war either being a subject in the film, or movies providing an escape with screwball comedies.
Film noirs rose in popularity during the 1940s as well as Technicolor.
Here are some of the popular Old Hollywood actresses during the 1940s.
Old Hollywood Actresses #11. Judy Garland
Judy Garland was an American actress and singer, successfully acting in both drama films and musicals.
Known for:
- Nominated for an Academy award for A Star is Born and Judgment at Nuremberg
- Playing Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz
Old Hollywood Actresses #12. Bette Davis
One of the most famous old hollywood actresses, Bette Davis had a career that lasted over 50 years.
She had a forthwright manner that came across in her acting style.
Known for:
- Her suberb acting chops
- Won an Academy Award for her role in Dangerous (1935) and for Jezebel (1938) among a number of other nominations
Old Hollywood Actresses #13. Joan Crawford
Joan Crawford was an American actress who initially began her career as a flapper in the 1920s.
She enjoyed huge popularity in the 1930s.
Known for:
- Her fiesty acting ability
- Won an Academy Award for her role in Mildred Pierce
Old Hollywood Actresses #14. Rita Hayworth
Rita Hayworth achieve peak fame in the 1940s, but she appeared in over 60 films over several decades.
Known for:
- Playing the femme fatale in the film noir Gilda
- Being a glam style icon in the 1940s
- Being one of the most popular pin up girls in WWII
- Was briefly married to Orson Welles
Vintage 1940s style:
Rita Hayworth rocked vintage glam with slinky gowns and a lot of glitter.
She also pulled off casual chic style with pants and shorts.
Other posts you might like:
20 Wildly Popular 1950s Pin up Models
Old Hollywood Actresses #15. Ingrid Bergman
Another very well known Old Hollywood Glam actress, Ingrid Bergman was a swedish actress with a long career.
Known for:
- Notable roles in movles like Casablanca opposite Humphrey Bogart
- Worked alongside Alfred Hitchcock in 3 films
- Won 3 Academy Awards
Vintage 1940s Fashion
Ingrid Bergman was known for her classy and simple 1940s style.
Her classy, simple style in Casablanca has inspired lots of other movies including Marion Cotillard’s fashion in Allied and even Rebecca Ferguson’s character Ilsa in Mission Impossible Rogue Nation.
Old Hollywood Actresses #16. Ginger Rogers
The American actress, singer, and dancer Ginger Rogers was popular during the 1930s and 1940s.
She was most known for her musical films and dancing alongside Fred Astaire during the 1930s.
Old Hollywood Actresses #17. Lauren Bacall
The sultry Lauren Bacall started her career as a model before getting her acting break opposite Humphrey Bogart, who she later married.
She went on to star in a number of popular movies.
Known for:
- Notable roles in movies like The Big Sleep
- Being married to Humphrey Bogart until his death
Vintage 1940s fashion
Lauren Bacall is helped popularize pants during the 1940s and was known for her simple and classy style.
Other posts you might like:
Lauren Bacall Style – 15 Spectacular Looks to Inspire Your Wardrobe
Old Hollywood Actresses #18. Katharine Hepburn
Katharine Hepburn was an American actress with a long career.
Known for:
- Her fiesty, tomboyish personality and image
- Notable roles in movies like The Philadelphia Story
- Her long term relationship with Spencer Tracy
- She won 4 Academy Awards, in including one for African Queen
1940s fashion
Katharine Hepburn is credited with helping define modern sportswear and normalizing trousers for women.
Other posts you might like:
The Katharine Hepburn Style Guide – Her Vintage Tomboy Fashion
Old Hollywood Actresses #19. Gene Tierney
The gorgeous Gene Tierney was well known during the 1940s and 1950s.
Known for:
- Notable roles in movies like the film noir Laura
- Nominated for an Academy Award for her role in Leave Her to Heaven
Other posts you might like:
Gene Tierney Leave Her to Heaven – Her Lethal Femme Fatale Style
Gene Tierney Wears 1940s Fashion in Laura (1944)
Old Hollywood Actresses #20. Lana Turner
Lana Turner was an American actress who was also well known as a popular pin up model.
She was one of the highest paid actresses during the 1940s.
Known for:
– Notable roles in movies like The Postman Always Rings Twice
1940s and 1950s Fashion
Lana Turner is an icon for Old Hollywood Glamour.
In fact, the original term “sweater girl” was coined for her, in describing how she looked wearing a tight sweater in one of her early roles wearing a bullet bra.
She had a passion for fashion, and reportedly even had a close that ran the length of her house.
Other posts you might like:
Vintage 1950s Bullet Bras – Behind the Bizarre Trend
Old Hollywood Actresses #21. Diahann Carroll
Diahann Carroll was an American actress, activist and singer.
Her career began in the 1950s in the film Carmen Jones in a supporting role.
She worked in broadway musicals and had a long career that extended into the 2000s.
Known for:
- Nominated for an Academy Award for the movie Claudine
- First African American Woman to win the Tony award for best actress
Old Hollywood Actresses #22. Joan Fontaine
Joan Fontaine enjoyed a long career, starring in over 40 films.
Known for:
- Notable roles in Hitchcock movies Rebecca and Suspicion
- Won an Academy Award for best actress in Suspicion
Fun facts!
Joan Fontaine had a famous older sister, also an Old Hollywood Glam star, Olivia de Havilland.
Joan Fontaine is also the only actress to have won an Academy award from acting in a Hitchcock Film.
1950s Old Hollywood Actresses
A wide variety of films were popular during the 1950s.
Technicolor and epic historical dramas were popular as well as Westerns and the beginnings of some cold war paranoia. John Wayne was at his peak popularity, as well as the suspense director Alfred Hitchcock.
Here are some of the popular Old Hollywood actresses during the 1950s.
Old Hollywood Actresses #23. Marilyn Monroe
Blonde bombshell Marilyn Monroe enjoyed peak popularity in the 1950s, her popularity continued into the 1960s and has continued after her tragic death in 1962.
Known for:
- Playing a “ditzy blonde” in movies like the Seven Year Itch, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, Some Like it Hot
- Being one of the studio system’s “blonde bombshell” types
- Her affair with President Kennedy
- Was a popular pin up model
Marilyn Monroe helped define Old Hollywood Glam.
With her slinky dresses designed by William Travilla, her Marilyn Monroe persona was perfectly crafted and skyrocketed her career.
Outside of the spotlight, it seemed that she preferred a simpler style.
Other posts you might like:
33 Bombshell Marilyn Monroe Sweater Outfits from the 1940s – 1960s
Old Hollywood Actresses #24. Audrey Hepburn
The British actress Audrey Hepburn is today perhaps just as remembered for her chic fashion as for her movie roles.
Known for:
- Notable roles in movies like My Fair Lady, Sabrina, Funny Face, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, to name a few
- Being a film and fashion icon
Her classic, chic style is still inspiring today.
Vintage fashion 1950s and 1960s
During the 1950s she helped popularize cigarette pants for women and of course, defined elegance in her little black dresses.
Other posts you might like:
Love the Audrey Hepburn Aesthetic? Here are 10 Ultra-Chic Outfits
Old Hollywood Actresses #25. Grace Kelly
Grace Kelly is another film and style icon that seems to be just as famous (if not more) for her fashion than for her movies.
Known for:
- Notable roles in movies like High Society
- 3 movie collaborations with director Alfred Hitchcock
- Leaving Hollywood in the 1950s to marry a Prince
Vintage Fashion 1950s and 1960s
Her classic, feminine style is what most people think of when thinking of 1950s fashion.
She is still inspirational today, for her chic, feminine fashion.
Other posts you might like:
Grace Kelly Movies – A Vintage Fashion Lover’s Guide
Old Hollywood Actresses #26. Elizabeth Taylor
Elizabeth Taylor was a British American actress, known for her gorgeous looks, love for diamonds, multiple husbands, as well as her films.
Known for:
- Notable roles in movies like Cat on a Hot Tin Roof and Cleopatra
- Won an Academy Award for best actress for Butterfield 8, and Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf
- Marrying actor Richard Burton not once, but twice
- One of the first celebrities to launch a perfume brand
Retro Fashion
Her style is very feminine, typical 1950s.
Her hourglass figure suited the 1950s silhouette perfectly, as all the 1950s fashions were about emphasizing the hourglass silhouette.
Old Hollywood Actresses #27. Ava Gardner
Ava Gardner was a top American actress during the 1950s.
Known for:
- Playing the femme fatale in the film noir The Killers
- Starring in notable 50s’ movies like The Barefoot Contessa, and The Snows of Kilimanjaro
- Being married to Frank Sinatra
- Her glam style sense that included evening gowns and classic dresses on screen and pants off screen.
Old Hollywood Actresses #28. Jane Russell
Feisty Jane Russell was a highly popular actress during the 1940s and 1950s.
Known for:
- Notable roles in movies like Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, opposite Marilyn Monroe
- A popular pin up model during World War II
- Her tall (5’7”) curvy figure
Old Hollywood Actresses #29. Sophia Loren
Sophia Loren is a famous Italian American Actress, and one of the few Old Hollywood Glam actresses still alive.
Known for:
- Starring in popular movies like Houseboat with Cary Grant,
- Famous for her curvy figure and love of olive oil
- First celebrity to start a perfume company
- Won an Academy Award for best actress Two Women
Vintage Fashion:
Sophia Loren is also famous for her fashion and helping define the idea of Old Hollywood Glam.
She looked incredible in the 1950s fashion that was all about the hourglass silhouette.
Old Hollywood Actresses #30. Anita Eckberg
Anita Ekberg was a Swedish actress who acted in both European and American films.
Known for:
- Notable roles in movies like La Dolce Vita
- Her curvy figure
- Being a popular pin up model
Retro Fashion
Anita Ekberg was fashionable throughout her life, spanning across different decades and styles.
Old Hollywood Actresses #31. Doris Day
Old Hollywood Actresses #31. Doris Day
Doris Day was a popular actress and singer during the 1950s and 1960s.
Known for:
- Notable roles in movies like Calamity Jane, Pillow Talk, Hitchcock’s The Man who Knew Too Much
- She was also a successful singer and recorded 100’s of songs
This post was all about Old Hollywood Actresses and their influence on 1930s fashion, 1940s fashion and 1950s fashion
Who was your favorite Old Hollywood Actress?
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