Biografia

14 novembre 1928 · Hollywood, California, Stati Uniti

19 maggio 2025 · Los Angeles, California, Stati Uniti (imprecisato)

Elizabeth Margaret von Gerkan

1,70 m

[on the idea for that famous scared pose] The one where I have my hands up in the air and I'm screaming? I had just finished working on Destinazione Terra (1953). I went to the still gallery and as I walked in, the cameraman who was taking stills said to me, "Put your hands up in the air and scream." And I did. It was an instant success. They loved it and the film just lives forever with that photo.

[on her impression of Marilyn Monroe] My cousin Diana Herbert was taking acting lessons when I was already under contract. She was in a show at the studio club... The day before the show, she said, "They took my song number away from me and they gave it to a girl named Marilyn Monroe who had been under contract at the studio for six months -- they had just dropped her! But now they're giving her the song. I'm still in the show and you still have to come and see me." Well, I went to see it and Diana did her number. She was very, very good. But then Marilyn came on. Oh my God, she was fantastic. She did a song called "I Never Took a Lesson in My Life." She was wearing this slinky black dress. I just couldn't believe they dropped her. She was incredible. She was just a star. I just thought if anyone from the studio saw the show, they would realize they made a terrible mistake and sign her back again.

I always thought Ida Lupino was absolutely fabulous and fantastic. I just loved every minute of being with her in a film.

[on working alongside Frank Sinatra] That was the thrill of my life. I was probably the biggest Sinatra fan that ever lived. I just worshiped the ground he walked on. I still love his songs and play them today. He had a weekly show at CBS. I would get called for jobs all the time. So I went. I was in a sketch with Sinatra. I think I was playing a sexy nurse in a psychiatrist office... I hate to say this, but I think he didn't like me at all. He was icy cold towards me. Just icy cold. I don't know why. It was disappointing. But I have a still of me with Sinatra and we look like a very, very happy couple [laughs]. I enjoy looking at that still. I'm just so thrilled I had the opportunity to not only meet him but to be photographed with him.

[on being recognized as a blonde bombshell in Hollywood] I loved it because I was an ugly duckling. When I was a little girl, my mother used to read to me all these lovely fairy stories about an ugly duckling. I just thought, "Oh, if only I could grow up to be a swan." I didn't like being an ugly duckling. I had buck teeth. I was very tall. I just felt ugly. I guess I did finally turn into a swan. It made me very, very happy because it was so unexpected.