Frederick's of Hollywood Blog

Today we celebrate a trio of stunning Hollywood actress’s birthdays! From Oscar winners to history makers, take a look at the bevy of beauties born today:

Born in Sweden in 1941, Ann-Margret Olsson came to America at the age of 5. Showing a natural aptitude in dance class at the age of 8, she started entering talent contests with the support of her parents and when she turned 20, moved to Vegas where she quickly landed a record deal and film contract. Best known for her roles in Bye Bye Birdie and Viva Las Vegas (the movie that sparked a lifelong friendship with Elvis Presley), Ann-Margret became a Top 10 Box Office star, teen idol, cultural icon, and was dubbed “the female Elvis Presley“.

Photo via Imdb.com.

With more than 16 films credited to her, 2 Oscar nominations and 2 chart-topping songs, Ann-Margret is the true definition of a star. Fun facts: Nicknamed “Slugger”, Ann-Margret was an avid motorcyclist, and was featured in the early ’60s Triumph ads. And, though she was known for her voluptuous figure and red hair, she wasn’t a natural redhead. The legendary hairdresser Sydney Guilaroff, who was responsible for  Lucille Ball‘s flaming locks, came up with the idea.

Ann-Margret finds herself in good company today! Joining the lovely Taurus in celebration is none other than Penelope Cruz.  Born in Madrid, she was a natural performer even as a child. She took up dance and studied ballet at Spain’s National Conservancy for 9 years before heeding her true calling and competing in a talent agency audition where she beat out 300 other girls for a contract that landed her prominent roles on Spanish TV.

Photo via thefabdomesticgoddess.

Her first feature film Jamón, jamón (1992) followed a year later to critical acclaim. She worked steadily through the ‘90s and achieved worldwide success with the release of Vanilla Sky and Blow in 2001. Once she crossed that Atlantic, there was no turning back. After a string of movies that encompassed every genre from comedy to musical drama, she became the first Spanish actress to win an Academy Award and receive a star on Hollywood Blvd. Talented, gorgeous and incredibly involved in charity work, Penelope Cruz is the very definition of A-List.

And no post about birthdays today would be complete without Jessica Alba! Originally from Pomona, she was moved a lot as child with her Air Force father before settling back in Mississippi, Having always wanted to be an actress, she took her first class when she was 12. Nine months later she was signed.

Photo via Imdb.

A talented young actress, she made her film debut in 1993. Commercials, independent films and many TV shows quickly followed. WIth more than 25 films beneath her belt and even more television spots, Jessica has proven herself to be a major player in Hollywood. Since the birth of her two daughters, however, she hasn’t working as much, seemingly wanting to focus on being a mom. Considering she’s been acting almost non-stop for the past 18 years, we say more power to her and happy birthday!

Today we celebrate the birthday of famous actor and model, Djimon Hounsou.

“America has this understanding of Africans that plays like National Geographic: a bunch of Negroes with loincloths running around the plain fields of Africa chasing gazelles. Meanwhile, we have Africans and African-Americans, contemporary men, with great stories, great integrity, great heroes and nobody wants to see or hear about those African heroes and those African-American heroes. One day, I will be in a position to play those great human beings on-screen.”

Photo via africanambassador.

He has a truly inspring story. Born in Benin, he moved to France at the age of thirteen. Unable to find work, he lived as a vagrant, sleeping under bridges until discovered by Thierry Mugler. He became a popular model and graced the catwalks of Paris and London before making a cameo in Janet Jackson’s Love Will Never Do Without You video in 1990. Continuing on into movies, he received critical acclaim for his role in Steven Spielberg’s Amistad. Djimon has the distinction of being the fourth African American male nominated for an Oscar. He joins such luminaries as Basil Rathbone, Cecil Hathway and Omar Sharif.

Born in Santa Barbara as Edith Minturn Sedgwick, Edie Sedgwick was an actress, socialite, fashion model and heiress. Best known as one of Andy Warhol’s “Superstars”, she was dubbed “The Girl of the Year” in 1965 after starring in several of his short films.

The Faces of Edie. Photo via DusktilDawn.

Edie was immediately dubbed an “It Girl” while Vogue magazine named her along with famed fashion model, Jean Shrimpton, a “Youthquaker”. Still considered a fashion icon by many today, her meteoric rise to fame, lavish spending and wild life were chronicled in the 2006 movie, Factory Girl.

Born in England in 1889, Sir Charles Spencer “Charlie” Chaplin began his career as a child on the Victorian stage. Using mime, physical comedy and slapstick during the silent film era, Charlie rocketed to stardom before the First World War.

Still one of the most recognizable movie stars in the world to this day, his talents didn’t stop at acting. He produced, directed and composed some of the most memorable movies of the 20th Century. He also co-founded United Artist Studios with Mary Pickford, Douglas Fairbanks and D. W. Griffith, to escape the confines of film financiers in 1919. Charlie Chaplin won 3 Oscars during his 75 year career, though he quite loudly proclaimed his distaste for the Academy. In 1999, the American Film Institute named Chaplin the 10th Greatest Screen Legend of All Time.

Photo via imdb.

As Martin Sieff wrote in his review of the book, Chaplin: A Life, “Chaplin was not just ‘big’, he was gigantic. In 1915, he burst onto a war-torn world bringing it the gift of comedy, laughter and relief while it was tearing itself apart through World War I (sic)”. Thank you and happy birthday Charlie!

Today we take a moment to wish some of the 20^th century’s biggest stars a very happy birthday. Songs have been written about them, they’ve been held up as the Hollywood standard of handsomeness and beauty and no one can dispute their talent. Sound incredible? They were.

Photo via Tumblr

Born April 5^th, 1916, Gregory Peck was one of the most popular movie stars from the ‘40s to the ‘60s. The California native was best known for his role as Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird (for which he received an Academy Award). He was named one of The American Film Institute’s “Greatest Male Stars of All Time” and was named to the “International Best Dressed List”. Honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his humanitarian work, Peck was definitely more than just a handsome face.

Photo via listal.com

With her famous eyes, contentious demeanor and incredible career, Bette Davis is one of American cinema’s most celebrated leading ladies. With more than 100 films, television and theater credits attributed to her at the time of her death, it’s easy to overlook the strides she made for women’s equality in Hollywood. Co-founder of the Hollywood Canteen (for which she received a Distinguished Civilian Medal from the United States Department of Defense) Bette was also the first female president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences. She won two Academy Awards, was the first actress to accrue ten nominations for acting and was the first woman to receive a Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Film Institute. No wonder this incredible woman is often imitated! Born today in 1908, she is widely considered to be one of the greatest female stars of all time.

Photo via imdb

With 75 films under his belt and widely acclaimed by his peers, Spencer Tracy is one of Hollywood’s most beloved stars. Nominated for nine Academy Awards, he received consecutive Oscars in 1937 and ’38. In 1942 he appeared with Katherine Hepburn in Woman of the Year, sparking a popular partnership that produced nine movies and launched their long-term love affair. He has been ranked one the “Ten Greatest Hollywood Legends” by the American Film Institute and his work continues to wow film scholars today.