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Top Actresses of the 1940s

The 1940s witnessed the rise of many Hollywood actresses. Among them were Ginger Rogers, who won an Oscar for her role in the 1940 film Kitty Foyle, and Lana Turner who became one of the highest-paid actresses during the 1940s. The decade also witnessed the rise and fall of actresses like Veronica Lake whose career flourished in the 1940s but began to wane towards the end of the decade. Despite their differences, the actresses of the 1940s were all drop dead gorgeous!

1. Hedy Lamarr

Hedy Lamarr
    
Also Known As: Hedwig Eva Maria Kiesler
Birthday: 09 November 1914
Born In: Vienna, Austria
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Died On: 19 January 2000

Hedy Lamarr was an Austrian-American actress whose early career was defined by her performance in the controversial Czech erotic film Ecstasy. Apart from gaining popularity as a beautiful Hollywood actress, Hedy Lamarr became known as an inventor after co-inventing frequency-hopping spread spectrum. Her career has inspired several works of art. She was also the inspiration behind the iconic character Catwoman.

2. Vivien Leigh

Vivien Leigh
    
Also Known As: Vivian Mary Hartley, Lady Olivier
Birthday: 05 November 1913
Born In: Darjeeling, India
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Died On: 08 July 1967

British actress Vivien Leigh gained popularity with her award winning performance in films Gone with the Wind and A Street Car named Desire and her Musical Broadway Tovarich. The beautiful actress, who went on to feature in films like That Hamilton Woman and Ship of Fools, had a troubled personal life and suffered from physical and mental health issues.

3. Gene Tierney

Gene Tierney
    
Also Known As: Gene Eliza Tierney
Birthday: 19 November 1920
Born In: Brooklyn, New York, United States
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Died On: 06 November 1991
Gene Tierney is best remembered for her Academy Award-nominated role of Ellen Berent Harland in Leave Her to Heaven. She also starred in The Ghost and Mrs. Muir, Laura, and The Razor's Edge, and performed on Broadway, too. Her personal life is said to have inspired an Agatha Christie novel.

4. Katharine Hepburn

Katharine Hepburn
    
Also Known As: Katharine Houghton Hepburn
Birthday: 12 May 1907
Born In: Hartford, Connecticut, United States
Sun Sign: Taurus
Died On: 29 June 2003

Katharine Hepburn served as the leading American actress for over six decades. She is regarded as an influential cultural figure and was included in the popular book Women Who Changed The World. Katharine Hepburn is also named in lists like 300 Women Who Changed the World, 100 Icons of the Century, and 200 Greatest Pop Culture Icons of All Time.

5. Ingrid Bergman

Ingrid Bergman
    
Birthday: 29 August 1915
Born In: Stockholm, Sweden
Sun Sign: Virgo
Died On: 29 August 1982

One of the greatest Swedish actresses ever, Ingrid Bergman is the only Triple Crown winner with three Academy Awards under her belt. Such is her impact that her character Ilsa Lund, which she portrayed in Casablanca, inspired the character of Ilsa Faust in the Mission Impossible franchise. An actress with a deep sense of freedom, Bergman voiced her views against racial segregation.