If you’re a fan of Old Hollywood – then you’ve probably noticed its full of great actresses who were also incredibly beautiful and feminine. And it’s high time we looked back at these ladies and reflected upon their career achievements and also look at how beautiful they are and how they graced our cinema screens.
Actresses such as Claudia Cardinale, Sophia Loren, and Anita Ekberg among others were known for their great acting – but also their rather large busts.
No doubt their shapely physiques brought attention as much as their acting. Let’s look back at some photos of them and also learn about their greatest career achievements. This is a video you don’t want to miss.
Join FactsVerse to learn about the Biggest Busts of Old Hollywood Ranked by Size…
CLAUDIA CARDINALE – 37
Claudia Cardinale is an Italian actress who was born on April 15, 1938, in Tunis, French Tunisia. She began her acting career in the 1950s, and she first focused on acting in Italian and French films. It was her role in the 1963 film “The Leopard,” that made her a star. So much so that she played herself in the film 8 ½ released later that year. For English-speaking audiences, she was known for her role as the Princess in The Pink Panther.
Some of her other notable films were “Once Upon a Time in the West,” and “Fitzcarraldo.” She worked with many of the greatest Italian filmmakers, such as Federico Fellini, Luchino Visconti, and Sergio Leone.
While she’s retired now and rarely makes public appearances, she’s not likely to be forgotten anytime soon. Her incredible career and legacy is an inspiration to actresses even today.
KIM NOVAK – 37
Kim Novak was born on February 13, 1933, in Chicago. Her acting career began in the 1950s and it wasn’t long until she became a star.
Kim Novak’s breakthrough role was certainly not a picnic, though it came from a film called “Picnic” This film earned her critical acclaim as well as a Golden Globe nomination. She went on to star in many great films – most notably “Vertigo” directed by Alfred Hitchcock. This remains the film where she got to showcase her beauty and talent at the same time.
Throughout her entire career, Kim Novak was respected as an actress but also given a lot of attention for her incredible beauty. She continued to act for several decades before retiring after acting in the 1991 film “Liebestraum.” She’s in her 90s now and has retired from public life, but is still remembered for her work to this day.
RAQUEL WELCH – 37
Raquel Welch passed away on February 15th, 2023. She was an American actress born on September 5, 1940, in Chicago. She began her career as a model in the 1960s. After gaining success as a model, she made the move to acting and it wasn’t long that she became a cinematic sex symbol.
Her breakthrough role was in the 1966 film “Fantastic Voyage.” This helped her get offer after offer and her next big film was”One Million Years B.C.” She was also well known for being in the film “Bedazzled.” She also made occasional appearances in several TV shows, including “Hawaii Five-O” and “Seinfeld.”
In addition to her acting career, Raquel Welch was also known for her career as a singer and author. She wrote several books including her memoirs and also released a music album in the 1970s. Her death saddened the industry and she’ll continue to be remembered for many more generations.
CAROLE LANDIS – 37
Carole Landis – sometimes known as “The Chest” due to her bust, was born on January 1st, 1919, in Wisconsin. Her show business career began as a chorus girl and it wasn’t long that she realized that acting was where the real opportunities were.
Carole Landis appeared in several successful films during her short-lived career. Her notable films included “One Million B.C.,” “Topper Returns,” and “I Wake Up Screaming.” As she worked as an actress, she also was a pin-up girl. In fact, she even performed as a singer and wrote a book about when she entertained troops during the Second World War. The book “Four Jills in a Jeep” became a film and she acted in it – which was unusual for an actress at the time.
She had an incredible career despite her short life. She sadly had depression when she learned that her lover Rex Harrison was unwilling to leave his wife for her. She died by suicide at the age of 29. Despite her short life and career, we remember her to this day.
ELVIRA – 38
Elvira, the Mistress of Dark is a character created by and played by Cassandra Peterson. Cassandra was born on September 17, 1951, in Kansas. She began her career as a go-go dancer and this helped give her inspiration and training for one day creating Elvira. Her acting career began in the 1970s and appeared in films such as “The Working Girls” and “Cry-Baby.”
But, it was her role as Elvira, that made her a star and pop culture icon. She created Elvira in the early 1980s for a local Los Angeles TV show. This show later became the popular series “Elvira’s Movie Macabre.” Elvira was notable because she was a horror character but she was also goofy and incredibly sexy – how many ladies do you know like that?
Cassandra has had several acting roles but it’s Elvira for which she’s best-known. She still occasionally makes appearances as Elvira for shows and live performances.
BETTY BROSMER – 38
While not an actress of Old Hollywood, she certainly had influence on actresses of her time. Betty Brosmer is a retired American bodybuilder, model, and author. She born on August 6, 1929. Her career as a model began in the 1950s and she quickly became a popular pin-up girl.
She was known for the hourglass figure which later became a sought-after physique. She became one of the first female bodybuilders and helped popularize it for women. She won many bodybuilding competitions due to her dedication to the sport. She would also write several books about health and fitness. Her sons Joe and Ben became prominent bodybuilders in her own right.
Today, she’s retired but still remembered for her contributions to bodybuilding. She’s an inspiration to women looking to get to their best shape.
JANE RUSSELL – 38
Jane Russell was born on June 21, 1921, in Bemidji, Minnesota. She began her career as a model and it was in the 1940s when she became a star – after being discovered by mogul Howard Hughes. Her first film was ‘The Outlaw’ – which was produced by Hughes.
However, it was the role in the iconic film “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes” alongside Marilyn Monroe that made her a star. Jane Russell became a sex symbol and was known for her sultry looks and her seductive voice.
Jane Russell was also an accomplished singer and she released many successful albums. These albums included “Let’s Put Out the Lights” and “Jane Russell Sings.”
While she didn’t maintain her sex symbol status after the 1950s, she continued to work regularly in cinema and television from the 1960s to the 1980s when she retired. She continued to be an inspiration for aspiring actresses. She died on February 28th, 2011, at the age of 89.
SOPHIA LOREN – 38
I mean – you know who Sophia Loren is, don’t you?
In case you don’t, Sophia Loren is an Italian actress who was born on September 20, 1934, in Rome. She began her acting career in the late 1940s. It wasn’t long until she became a star and she’s still regarded as one of the most iconic actresses of all time!
She starred in so many great films throughout her career that it’s impossible to mention them all. Some of them include ‘Two Women’ ‘Marriage Italian Style’ ‘The Millionairess’ and many more.
What made her stand out is that though she had the beauty of a supermodel, she never let this define her. She was able to do almost any kind of role in any kind of genre. She was known for dramas and comedies equally and she excelled in both Italian and English films. Needless to say, she remains an icon to this day.
JAYNE MANSFIELD – 40
Jayne Mansfield was born as Vera Jayne Palmer on April 19, 1933, in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. She began her career in the 1950s, and it wasn’t long until she became a star – known for her blonde looks, all the rage at the time, and her curvaceous figure.
Her film career consisted of one hit after the other and she was particularly known for the films “The Girl Can’t Help It” and “Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter?” – both now hailed as classics.
Like many other sex symbols of her time, she lost that status as she got a bit older. Nevertheless, she continued to act throughout the 1960s. Sadly, she died in a tragic car accident at the age of 34 in 1967. Her life was cut short but her films and photoshoots live on and we continue to remember her achievements to this day.
ANITA EKBERG – 40
After Sophia Loren, the other great European bombshell to gain international fame was Anita Ekberg. She was born on September 29, 1931, in Malmö, Sweden. She stared her career as a model and became “Miss Sweden” in 1950. She began acting shortly afterward.
Her big break came in 1955 when she was cast in the now classic film “La Dolce Vita.” Her scene bathing in the Trevi Fountain remains one of the most well-known scenes in the history of cinema. She continued to act in Swedish, Italian, and English films throughout her career including Bocaccio ‘70 and War and Peace.
She was always remembered for her acting chops but also her incredible beauty and charm.
She died on January 11th, 2015, in Italy at the age of 83.
Are you a fan of any of these ladies? They were known for their incredible beauty and this includes their busts. But of course, one must remember them for their fantastic lives and careers and contributions to cinema.
Now, here’s what we’d like to hear from you:
Do you think that beautiful actresses have to work extra harder to prove their talents?
Or will talent always become the most important thing when we look at an actor or actress?
