Lana Turner American actress Date of Birth: 08.02.1921 Country: USA

Lana Turner: From Small Town to Hollywood

Lana Turner was an American actress who made her mark in Hollywood during the golden age of cinema. Born Julia Milfred Frances Turner on February 8, 1921, in the small town of Wallace, Idaho, Lana grew up in a family of modest means. After her father, John Turner, lost his job as a miner, the family moved to San Francisco in search of better opportunities. Unable to find stable work, John turned to gambling and one night, he never returned home, leading the family to believe he had been murdered, although his body was never found.

Lana was raised by her mother, Mildred, who, upon discovering health problems, was advised by a doctor to move to a drier climate. This led them to Los Angeles, where Lana, at the age of fifteen, found work as a cosmetologist to support her family. However, Lana had dreams of becoming an actress and enrolled in a Hollywood school to pursue her passion. Fate intervened in 1936 when Lana was sitting in a cafe on Sunset Boulevard and was approached by William Wilkerson, the publisher of the "Hollywood Reporter." He offered her a chance to try her luck in the film industry and introduced her to agent Zeppo Marx.

In a stroke of luck, Lana was given a small role in the film "They Won't Forget" (1937) by director Mervyn LeRoy. Although the film was forgettable, Lana's appearance, walking down the street in a tight sweater and high heels, created a sensation. She was immediately dubbed the "Sweater Girl," and MGM studios signed her to a contract. Lana owed her success primarily to her slim figure and angelic face. To enhance her appeal, MGM convinced her to dye her hair blonde and gave her a new name. The captivating brunette, Julia Milfred Turner, became the seductive blonde bombshell Lana Turner. It was hard not to notice such a beauty in Hollywood.

Lana began frequenting nightclubs and soon earned the title of "Queen of the Nightclubs." She had a reputation for changing men often, and one of her suitors, the famous lawyer Greg Bautzer, even proposed to her. However, their marriage never materialized. Louis B. Mayer, the head of MGM, reproached Lana for her indiscriminate relationships and urged her to take her work more seriously. She quickly married musician Artie Shaw, her first of seven husbands. Unfortunately, their marriage was unhappy, as Shaw, an intellectual, constantly ridiculed Lana's lack of education. The couple divorced in 1940.

In the same year, Lana found herself another man, restaurateur Stephen Crane. However, it turned out that Crane had a legal wife in Mexico, so Lana had to marry him twice. During their marriage, their daughter Cheryl Crane was born. Despite disapproving of Lana's behavior, Louis B. Mayer couldn't expel her from MGM because she was adored by audiences, especially men. Lana's talent as an actress also remained unquestioned. She impressed audiences with her performance as Beatrice Emery in the film "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" (1941) and shone alongside Clark Gable in "Somewhere I'll Find You" (1942). Their on-screen partnership was one of the most popular in America and brought financial success to the studio.

In 1946, Lana starred in the film "The Postman Always Rings Twice," which became one of her most successful roles. Based on the novel by James M. Cain, the classic film noir told a dramatic story of conspiracy that ends in absurdity and tragedy. Lana brilliantly portrayed a femme fatale, but her performance was not recognized with an Oscar, for which she was nominated. Her career reached its peak in the 1950s, with films like "The Bad and the Beautiful" (1952), which received critical acclaim and multiple Academy Awards. However, Lana was only praised, and she never received an Oscar herself. She delivered another impressive performance as Lora Meredith in Douglas Sirk's "Imitation of Life" (1959).

The late 1950s marked a decline in Lana's career, partly due to an unfortunate event. At the time, she was in a relationship with Johnny Stompanato, a notorious gangster associated with Mickey Cohen. Stompanato charmed Lana, but when she discovered his true nature, it was too late. On April 4, 1958, Lana attended the Oscars ceremony, and upon her return, Stompanato confronted her, furious that she hadn't taken him along. Lana believed it wasn't appropriate to appear in public with a gangster. The argument escalated, and in an act of self-defense, Lana's fourteen-year-old daughter Cheryl grabbed a knife and fatally stabbed Stompanato. Cheryl was acquitted, claiming she acted in self-defense, but some speculate that Lana was the one who killed Stompanato. Regardless, Cheryl took the blame, ultimately protecting both herself and her mother. Journalists noted that Lana's acting in court was worthy of an Oscar.

From that moment on, Lana's career spiraled downward, and she led a reclusive life for over thirty years. Although she married several more times, none of her husbands were able to make her truly happy. In the end, Lana Turner passed away on June 29, 1995, with only her daughter Cheryl by her side. One of the most sensual and glamorous stars of the 1940s and 1950s, Lana Turner contributed to the creation of the golden age of Hollywood, the factory of dreams that, as history shows, had little to do with reality. Nonetheless, films from that era continue to captivate audiences, and the stars of that time still shine in the Hollywood sky.