DVDBeaver's Favorite Women of the Cinema - Hollywood Sex Appeal Without Plastic Surgery or Breast Augmentation

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Renée Falconetti

"Falconetti" as she was known has a rare place in cinema history. Her performance in her only film, Carl Th. Dryer's The Passion of Joan of Arc", was praised by Pauline Kael as the greatest in cinema history. Clearly it remarks her expressive qualities that shine beyond many of the most seasoned theatrical performers. The extensive work ethic required by Dreyer pushed her forever from the silver screen.

Date of birth 1893, Sermano, Corsica, Date of death: 1946, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Sometimes known as: Mlle Falconetti

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Rita Hayworth

Born October 17th, 1918, Rita Hayworth was daughter of Spanish dancer Eduardo Cansino's . Margarita Carmen Cansino (her birthname) trained as a dancer from early childhood. In person Rita was shy, quiet, and unassuming; only when the cameras rolled did she turn on the explosive sexual charisma that in Gilda (1946) made her a superstar. Nickname: 'The Love Goddess', Height 5' 6"

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Giulietta Masina

Described by "The New York Times" as "film's eternal waif," Masina is best known for the plucky, indomitable performances she gave in the films of her husband, Federico Fellini. She was born 22nd February, 1920 in Giorgio di Piano, Italy. She acted with a drama group at the Uni versity of Rome and later met Fellini when she performed in a radio program he wrote about a young married couple. (They married soon after this.) She made her film debut with a small part in Paisan (1946, cowritten by Fellini) and won kudos for her work in Without Pity (1948) and later had featured roles in Fellini's first films, Variety Lights (1950) and The White Sheik (1951). But it was La Strada (1954) that won her international acclaim for her touching performance as Gelsomina, the much-abused assistant to circus strongman Anthony Quinn. She was even better as the ever-hopeful prostitute in Nights of Cabiria (1957), and evoked comparisons to Chaplin and Garbo. Giuletta died less than 5 months after her husband in March 23rd, 1994. Birth Name: Giulia Anna Masina

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Audrey Hepburn

I doubt anyone could deny the magnetic relationship that Audrey Hepburn had with the camera. It portrayed her grace and beauty with absolute clarity. She almost re-invented the word "Moviestar", elevating it to a higher level.

Audrey Hepburn was born on May 4, 1929 in Brussels, Belgium. She really was blue-blood from the beginning with her father, a wealthy English banker, and her mother, a Dutch baroness. After her parents divorced, Audrey went to London with her mother where she went to a private girls school. She was accomplished as a ballerina and her elegance and style will always be remembered in film history.

Birth Name: Andrey Kathleen Ruston (Audrey Kathleen van Heemstra Ruston), Height: 5' 7"

"Andrey," being an unusual form of the masculine "Andrew," then became misspelled as "Audrey."

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Grace Kelly

On November 12, 1929, Grace Patricia Kelly was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to wealthy parents. She desired was to become an actress at an early age. She had really loved working on the Riveria the summer before in 'To Cathch a Thief' when she met Prince Ranier during the Cannes festival. He needed a wife, because with no heir to the throne, Monaco would again be part of France -- after his death -- and its citizens would have to pay French taxes. And Kelly thought it was time for her to select a husband, one who would finally meet with her parents' approval. Her biographers show that the life of a princess was not exactly living happily ever after. Old friends from Philadelphia as well as people she had known in Hollywood reported how glad she was to talk about her life in America and to be speaking English. And then on a cliff road she had known so well since her first visit to the Riviera, there was the fatal crash. The spot is said to be the same spot where the picnic scene was filmed in 1954. Birth Name: Grace Patricia Kelly, Nickname: Graciebird, Height: 5' 7"

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Catherine Deneuve

Catherine Deneuve was born in 1943, in Paris, France. Her parents were actors. She made her movie debut in 1957, when she was a teenager, and continued with small parts in minor films, until Roger Vadim gave her a meatier part in Le Vice et la Vertu (1962) . But her breakthrough came with the unique Palm D'Or winning musical The Umbrella's of Cherbourg(1963) , in which she gave an unforgettable performance. The director was the gifted Jacques Demy who also cast Deneuve in the less successful Les Demoiselles de Rochefort (1967). She then played a schizophrenic killer in Roman Polanski's Repulsion (1965) and a married woman who works as a part-time prostitute every afternoon in 'Luis Bunuel' 's masterpiece Belle de jour (1967). She also worked with Bunuel in Tristana (1970) and gave a great performance for 'Truffaut' in Mississippi Mermaid (1969), a kind of apotheosis of her "frigid femme fatale" persona. Although the elegant and always radiant Deneuve has never appeared on stage, she is universally hailed as one of the "grandes dames" of French cinema, joining a list that includes such illustrious talents as Simone Signoret, Jeanne Moreau, Isabelle Huppert and the younger Juliette Binoche. Chosen by Empire magazine as one of the 100 Sexiest Stars in film history (#38). [1995] An archetype for Gallic beauty, who swears she's never had a breast augmentation or plastic surgery, Deneuve succeeded 'Brigitte Bardot' as the model for Marianne, the symbol of the French Republic seen on French coins and stamps. Ranked #89 in Empire (UK) magazine's "The Top 100 Movie Stars of All Time" list. [October 1997] Was once fashion designer, Yves Saint-Laurent's muse... she will only wear his clothing! Birth Name: Catherine Dorléac.

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Marie Rivière

One of many Eric Rohmer 'babes'. The actress has made a deliberate and effective attempt to keep the details of her life a mystery. Falling back on very rare interviews that she gave (it's nice having access to Lexis-Nexis) , she studied at the Actor's studio in Paris. She got her minor role in Perceval when she wrote a letter to Rohmer after seeing "Chloe in the afternoon," she has two sons, and that's about it. Her films include 'Les Filles Ne Savent Pas Nager' (1999) aka 'Girls Can't Swim', 'Conte d'Automne' (1998) 'Autumn Tale', 4 Adventures of Reinette & Mirabelle (1986), Le Rayon Vert (1986) , 'La Femme de l'Aviateur' (1980) 'The Aviator's Wife' .

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Juliette Binoche

Born March 9th, 1964. Juliette Binoche, daughter of an actress and a sculptor, was only 23 when she first attracted the attention of international film critics with her role in the Unbearable Lightness of Being in 1988. Chosen by Empire magazine (in 1995) as one of the 100 Sexiest Stars in film history (#48) she turned down the lead in Jurassic Park (1993) opting instead for the more challenging role as Julie in Krzysztof Kieslowski's Tri-Color 1st feature "Bleu". Chosen by "People" magazine in 1997 as one of the 50 Most Beautiful People in the World she gave birth to her son Raphaël. Father is Andre Halle, a professional scuba diver. Height: 5' 6".

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Maggie Cheung

Maggie Cheung - Born on September 20, 1964 in Hong Kong. Moved at the age of 8 with her family to England. Upon finishing secondary school she returned to Hong Kong where she began modeling and appearing in commercials. In 1983 she participated in the Miss Hong Kong pageant for which she was awarded first runner-up. Her extensive roles include many Art-house modern classics such as 'Irma Vep' and 'In the Mood For Love'.

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Emmanuelle Béart

Emmanuelle Béart was born August 14, 1965 in Saint Tropez, France. She lived together with her brothers and sisters on a farm in Gassin not far from Saint Tropez in the Provence (southern France) because her father, French singer and poet Guy Béart didn't want Emanuelle to be effected by the glamour world of Paris. The rapturously beautiful Béart was an au pair living in Montreal when she met director Robert Altman, who encouraged her to become an actress, but never cast her in a role.

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Tran Nu Yên-Khê

Born in 1968 in An Xuyen, Vietnam, Tran Nu Yên-Khê is blessed with 'presence' onscreen. A gifted and beautiful actress she is always cast in her husband, Ahn Hung Tran's films. All hailed as masterpieces; 'The Scent of Green Papaya', 'Cyclo' and 'Vertical Ray of the Sun'. Her shy and gentle demeanor is obviously expressed in her portrayal's that to date have not tested her thespian abilities.

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