Ava Gardner: sensual beauty and the sad end of the Queen of Hollywood (15 photos)

On the unspoken title of the Queen of Hollywood at different times claimed by the most beautiful women of their era. But this one broadcast to the world such powerful energy and sensual appeal that even presented in a specific way, on the verge.





So, Ava Gardner is "the sexiest animal on Earth." Ava Lavinia Gardner was born in 1922 as the youngest sixth child in a farmer's family from North Carolina. The girl was brought up in severity, somewhere even bordering on harshness: no beautiful outfits, no cosmetics. Even books were banned, with the exception of the Bible.



After graduating from secretarial courses, 18-year-old Ava moved to New York, where her sister and her husband had a photo studio. Photo taken in 1940 girls caught the eye of a representative of a subsidiary Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Film Studios. The contract was signed quickly. AND along with studying acting courses, the path began Ava to the heights.



"Mogabmo"

At first it was episodic roles. The first serious The 1946 film The Assassins was a success. And the real glory came after film "The Snows of Kilimanjaro" in 1952, for the role in which the actress was nominated for an Oscar.



"Snows of Kilimanjaro"

Gardner became a recognized star of the 50s. And although about acting talent critics spoke very reservedly, about beauty, attractiveness and innate sensuality to speak was redundant.



Rooney and Gardner

Despite the abundance of fans, Ava did not rush headlong into relationship. Still, a strict upbringing and moral attitudes affected. And Mickey Rooney - the famous Hollywood actor began to court Gardner and quickly realized that the only way to achieve the location of the beauty is marriage.



Hughes and Gardner

He took place, but lasted hardly a year: Rooney was married to career, and Ava was not satisfied with his constant travels and visits social gatherings. After the divorce, he turned to the brilliant beauty Attention Howard Hughes - Entrepreneur, Engineer, Aviation Pioneer, director, producer. She had everything at her disposal - jewelry, outfits, rest, instant fulfillment of any whims. But the cell was golden: the billionaire was jealous of his beloved, controlled her every step and even posted a guard.



Gardner & Shaw

After the end of the relationship, the actress began an affair with Artie Show. The talented clarinetist won the woman's heart at first. But they turned out to be too different culturally - encyclopedia an educated intellectual and a provincial simpleton who, in addition to I have never read the Bible in my life.



Gardner and Sinatra

After the breakup in Ava's life, a period began in which she received that very ambiguous nickname - "the most sex animal on earth." A series of novels was interrupted after meeting with Frank Sinatra. The singer fell in love and even divorced to marry sweetheart.

Their relationship was like a roller coaster: violent scandals and no less passionate reconciliations. The couple built a career and gradually moved away from each other. Darkened the relationship and the fact that Ava could not get pregnant. In 1957, this marriage also ceased to exist.



"Barefoot Countess"



"Angel in Red"

The following years again became a series of novels. Wherein the actress was actively filming. She has roles in the melodrama "Mogambo", a drama Joseph Mankiewicz "Barefoot Countess", post-apocalyptic film "On shore." By the 1960s, his career was in decline. And the latest notable projects became roles in the military drama "Angel in Red" and the film adaptation of the play Tennessee Williams "Night of the Iguana".



"Iguana Night"



"Blue bird"

Health problems also affected: two strokes (by the way, in during the period of illness, Sinatra took over all the expenses), a wound on the cheek, which Ava received as a result of a crazy act. Another bullfighter lover allowed her to take part in a bullfight, and furious the bull cut the woman's cheek. Plastic surgery made a scar on the face almost imperceptible, but Gardner spent several years in seclusion, refusing to act and even leave the house.

The last notable project was participation in the fairy tale "Blue bird" 1976. After which the actress very rarely appeared on screens. She plunged into a prolonged depression, which she tried the old and proven, but absolutely ineffective way - alcohol.



Somehow she got a call from the studio with an offer to play a role lonely rich woman. Ava hung up the phone with the words: “I have been I play it!"



After the heart attack, his health deteriorated rapidly. The actress died in 1990, despite the efforts of doctors and colossal financial injections of Sinatra.



Oblivion and loneliness are the lot of many who once shone brightly stars. But often they themselves are to blame for this outcome. And a reminder of bright life remains bright roles in films that have become classics.