Classic Beauty: Linda Darnell

If ever there was an actress who got crucified on the twin crosses of a pushy showbiz mother and a horny studio executive, that would be Dallas girl Linda Darnell (her story here).  Her life could also be entitled:  “Nice Girls Finish Last”, because the one thing about her that everyone ever agreed on was what a sweetie she was.

However, that’s not the story here.  These pics are:

Because she’d been one of the youngest actresses to play adult women — she was barely 16 at the time she started — her movies didn’t show off her figure, and most especially not her legs (which were spectacular).

And when some more “grownup” pictures of her were published:

…she was promptly voted one of the “Four Most Beautiful Women in Hollywood” (alongside Hedy Lamarr, Ingrid Bergman, and Gene Tierney — pretty exalted company).

Hardly surprising.

Modern Classic Beauty

I’ve featured her before, here and there, but not in depth (so to speak).  So here’s Italy’s worthy successor to Sophia and Gina:  Monica Bellucci.  I was going to start with young Monica and work my way up [ahem] to the present day, but like Sophia and Gina, La Monica is pretty much astounding at any age.  So I’ll just do a monochrome set first, and leave the color for another time.  Okay?

Que bella.

Classic Beauty: Jane Russell

Probably one of the greatest sex symbols… actually, Jane Russell wasn’t.  Although she certainly had the body to qualify for the title, she was never overtly sexual like Marilyn or Mae and so she remained a favorite simply as a pinup.  I think she was extraordinary.

…and of course, the most famous ones of her, rolling in the hay so to speak:

Astonishing.