Fab Faves: Classic Beauty - Actresses

I may not be girly in nature, but I would like to think I know what’s “beautiful” and what’s not. Everyone has their own definition of beauty; I know I do. My definition may not be the same as yours, and that’s okay! Diversity amongst us human beings is what really makes our world beautiful.

As sappy as this all sounds let me get to the point. Beauty may be in the eye of the beholder, but here are a few actresses from the past (the golden era of film?) that I consider to be beautiful in a classical sort of way. These actresses are all from my parents’ or grandparent’s generation, but I think because of their classical beauty, they will transcend through all of time. Not only are they known for their beauty, but they are also known for their acting skills. All of these women are on the American Film Institute’s list of greatest stars.

Audrey Hepburn - I admit that I have yet to see any of her films, but to me she will always be the epitome of classic beauty. She’s just simply gorgeous. Those big eyes of her and her hairstyle . . . everything about her is just awesome. I just love her style. Her style is so simple but so elegant. If I could choose someone to look like, she would be the one!

Ingrid Bergman - I loved her in Casablanca. Something about her just captured me to like her, and I think she’s really pretty as well. Oi. Now I want to go see that film just to see her and Humphrey Bogart, along with that Captain dude and the other boyfriend that fits into love triangle. *swoons*

Marilyn Monroe - That image of her where her skirts going up, and she’s preventing the entire thing from showing her private area is a fabulous and classic image from The Seven Year Itch. This blonde beauty is just as classic as Hepburn. Like Hepburn, though, I have yet to see her films, yet she’s like Hepburn in a way that she’s an icon to the point that Andy Warhol painted her. Woot!

Rita Hayworth - I admit that I only know of her because of The Shawshank Redemption film, which ranks as one of my favourite piece of film. Thanks to that film, I discovered that she was a popular sex icon, but regardless of that information, she was hot! Especially in this picture. I can see why she was every man’s (and some woman’s?) dream come true, haha.

Ginger Rogers - Come on, Ginger Rogers with Fred Astaire is like milk and cookies going together. Not only was she a fabulous dancer, but she knew how to do it with style, grace, and elegance. There’s also an awesome quote about her: Remember, Ginger Rogers did everything Fred Astaire did, but she did it backwards and in high heels — Faith Whittlesey. Well said, Whittlesey. Whenever she’s with Astaire, she shone beautifully.

Vivien Leigh - I will say it unabashedly that I found Vivien Leigh annoying in most of her roles. I didn’t like her as Scarlet O’Hara in Gone with the Wind, and I didn’t like her as Blanche DuBois in A Streetcar Named Desire. What I do like is how she fit in both of those roles to a capital T. No matter how much I try to dislike her, she’s impossible to not like. Something about her just appeals to me. Plus, she is quite striking in her own unique way. I like the way she arches her eyebrow — makes her so snobbish and so stuck up, but it just fits her!