Hollywood’s Golden Era lasted from 1930 to 1959. During these years, many amazing actresses appeared. Here we’ll introduce 23 gorgeous actresses from Hollywood’s golden age. Read through to learn your favorite idols’ then and now.
The Irish actress held her own against Charles Laughton in The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1939) at age 19 and gained many a fan in films like The Black Swan (1942), Rio Grande (1950), and The Parent Trap (1961). O’Hara received an Honorary Award from the Academy at the 2014 Governors Awards.
The child star was best known for her roles in Meet Me in St. Louis (1944), Little Women (1949), and The Secret Garden (1949). O’Brien received a Juvenile Academy Award in 1944, but she’s also one of the first generations to have a difficult time transitioning to grown-up roles. Her most recent role is in a new adaptation of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.
This actress and model made her screen debut in Hitchcock’s The Birds (1963), and from there, it was onwards and upwards. Over the years, Tippi has continued to appear in a whole host of films and TV shows, including CSI, Free Samples, and Cougar Town. These days, she keeps busy as the founder of big-cat sanctuary Shambala.
This French ultimate sex symbol had an incredibly prolific two decades in French film, making the biggest splash with And God Created Woman (1957). She retired from acting completely in 1973. Nowadays, she makes headlines as an animal rights activist and outspoken critic of immigration to France.
The beautiful actress was already a star in Italy before she broke out internationally with films like Houseboat (1958) and Two Women (1960) that won her an Oscar. In recent years, Loren has slowed down just a little. In 2009, she appeared in Nine and starred in an Italian miniseries about her mother in 2010.
From the ’60s to ’00s, Lockhart could always be found on TV. The actress has appeared in a range of shows, including Knots Landing, Babylon 5, and Bewitched. She’s best known as Timmy’s mother in family drama Lassie. Nowadays, Lockhart is still appearing in occasional small films but is taking things a tad slower.
This beauty got her first big role of Marie Browning in To Have and Have Not (1944) due to her image on the cover of Harper’s Bazaar. This role set the tone for a fabulous career and her great love story with Humphrey Bogart. She made one film a year and each was eagerly awaited like Dark Passage (1947). Sadly, Lauren died at 89 in 2014.
Novak starred in Hitchcock’s masterpiece Vertigo (1958), which is one of the greatest movies of all time, but her relationship with Hollywood was never smooth sailing. She made movies on and off until 1991, then she quit acting completely. The 85-year-old is now thriving as a painter.
Reynolds starred in Singin’ in the Rain (1952) at just 19. She continued to make a slew of popular movies like The Unsinkable Molly Brown (1964) and The Singing Nun (1966). In recent years, she’s been a favorite TV guest star and even earned an Emmy nod for playing Grace’s mother on Will & Grace, though you’re just as likely to know her as Carrie Fisher’s mom.
From wholesome musical leading lady (1955’s Oklahoma!, 1956’s Carousel, 1962’s The Music Man) to prostitute (Elmer Gantry, which won her the Oscar in 1960) to The Partridge Family matriarch to loopy grandma (Raising Hope), Jones has packed in a lot in her eight decades. Now the 84-year-old has more on the way.
It’s hard to believe that Olivia was just 23 when she played Melanie in Gone With the Wind (1939). She won two Oscars for To Each His Own (1946) and The Heiress (1949). Olivia now is the oldest living Academy Award winner. Long been retired from acting, Olivia only makes occasional appearances at award ceremonies.
The distinguished Brit was most known as the titular sleuth in Murder, She Wrote, the voice of Mrs. Potts in Beauty and the Beast, and a Broadway legend. However, she first did her time as a B-list movie actress, co-starring in Gaslight, National Velvet, and The Picture of Dorian Gray. In recent years, the 93-year-old finished touring in a revival of Noel Coward’s play Blithe Spirit.
This country music star has been gracing the world with her incredible vocals for the last 6 decades. Her hits such as One’s on the Way, Fist City, and You Ain’t Woman Enough has earned her plenty of awards. In 2017, a health scare has slowed her down, but she continues to keep us entertained even at 86 years old.
Powell landed a movie contract after competing in the radio show Hollywood Showcase: Stars over Hollywood. Her biggest roles were in Royal Wedding (1951) and Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954). She’s also known as Alan Thicke’s mother on Growing Pains. Nowadays, the 89-year-old still makes her way to the stage once in a while.
By the age of 10, Taylor was already a stage and film pro. She starred in some of the most important films of her time and won two Oscars: one for Butterfield 8 and one for Who’s Afraid Of Virginia Woolf. Taylor also famously married eight times and did endless charity work before her death in 2011.
Eva started her career in the early days of television and made her mark opposite Marlon Brando in On the Waterfront (1954), which won her a Best Supporting Actress Oscar. She went on to cemented her spot in film history in Hitchcock’s North by Northwest (1959). Most recently, she had a role in Winter’s Tale (2014) and voiced Katara in The Legend of Korra.
Carroll got her start by winning a reality show: Chance of a Lifetime in 1954. She went on to get small parts in a slew of films and became the first African American to win a Tony Award for No Strings in 1962. Carroll is best known for her titular part in the TV show Julia (1968-71). Most recently, she appeared on-screen in recurring roles on White Collar in 2009.
Dickinson got her start in TV Westerns but soon took her talents to movies in Rio Bravo (1959) and the original Ocean’s 11 (1960). After a decade of hit films, Dickinson moved back to TV for her groundbreaking role in Police Woman (1974-78). Her most recent part was in the TV movie Mending Fences in 2009.
The wholesome blonde started out life as a pop star and was responsible for over 650 singles from the late ’40s to the late ’60s. She then hit the big screen and earned acclaim for movies like The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956) and Pillow Talk (1959). In recent years, Doris has stayed away from the limelight apart from sporadic charity appearances.
The Swedish beauty played an All-American cutie at the tail end of Hollywood’s Golden Age in Bye Bye Birdie (1963) and Viva Las Vegas (1964). Ann-Margaret, now 77, has been acting and singing steadily. Her most recent appearance on screen is a recurring role on Ray Donovan.
