They Dont Make Stars Like They Used To

At the height of her career, Monroe was the most famous woman in the world. An issue of Life magazine with her on the cover sold 6.3 million copies. But although she was unquestionably a sex symbol, projecting an irresistible mix of sensuality and vulnerability, Monroe also was a gifted actress who won respect from directors like the legendary John Ford. Her choice of men was less successful; she had husbands like baseball legend Joe DiMaggio and playwright Arthur Miller, she never stayed married. She was also reportedly involved with then-President John F. Kennedy.

Monroe was the woman; Grace Kelly was the lady. A delicate-featured blonde, Kelly had a self-possessed manner that occasionally gave a hint of something more fiery beneath. But overall, pearls, cashmere twin sets and ethereal ball gowns seem to have been invented just for her. It seemed entirely fitting that she ended up marrying a prince.

Like Grace Kelly, Hepburn is the image of an ideal lady. But shes also an enduring style icon. Although the little black dress she wore in Breakfast at Tiffanys (1963) is her most famous legacy, her skin-tight black pants in Funny Face (1957) influence fashion to this day.

Like Grace Kelly, Hepburn is the image of an ideal lady. But shes also an enduring style icon. Although the little black dress she wore in Breakfast at Tiffanys (1963) is her most famous legacy, her skin-tight black pants in Funny Face (1957) influence fashion to this day.

Everything about Loren is lush: the eyes, the lips, the body. No wonder she played passionate, larger-than-life women like Cleopatra and Aida, the heroine of Verdis opera. But Loren also showed a deft touch for comedy, especially in the movies she made, like Marriage Italian-Style with Marcello Mastroianni. But despite her bombshell image, she remained married to Italian film producer Carlo Ponti for forty years, until his death in 2007. And throughout the marriage, she routinely resisted the interest of other menincluding hunky legend Cary Grant and outrageous comedian Peter Sellers, both of whom were in love with her.