QUIZ: How Much Do You Know About Classic Hollywood Actresses?

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The Golden Age of Hollywood would not have been as shining and glamorous if not for the work of these gorgeous women! How much do you know about classic Hollywood actresses? Test your knowledge here.

Born Harlean Carpenter, she signed in at her first audition under the name Jean Harlow, which was the name of her:

Retry Correct Incorrect Jean Harlow was actually the actress’ mother’s maiden name, which became her stage name for films like Hell’s Angels and Red Dust.

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Born Harlean Carpenter, she signed in at her first audition under the name Jean Harlow, which was the name of her:

Neighbor
Sister
Mother
Best friend

Who won the 1930 Academy Award for Best Actress for their role in The Divorcee?

Retry Correct Incorrect Shearer was the first person to be nominated five times for an Academy Award for Best Actress throughout the 1930s.

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Who won the 1930 Academy Award for Best Actress for their role in The Divorcee?

Helene Millard
Florence Eldridge
Norma Shearer
Mary Doran

She was often paired with Fred Astaire, with whom she performed 33 partnered dances in films made at RKO, with the exception of The Barkleys of Broadway, which was made at MGM.

Retry Correct Incorrect Rogers won the 1941 Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in Kitty Foyle.

Bettmann/Getty Images

She was often paired with Fred Astaire, with whom she performed 33 partnered dances in films made at RKO, with the exception of The Barkleys of Broadway, which was made at MGM.

Audrey Hepburn
Rita Hayworth
Cyd Charisse
Ginger Rogers

Due to her cherubic face and her small height, MGM often paired Judy Garland with this actor:

Retry Correct Incorrect Later in her life, Garland claimed that MGM prescribed her, Rooney, and other child actors at the time amphetamines to keep them working long, exhaustive hours.

Bettmann/Getty Images

Due to her cherubic face and her small height, MGM often paired Judy Garland with this actor:

Perry Como
Mickey Rooney
Bob Hope
Eddie Fisher

This actress’ real name is Margarita Carmen Cansino:

Retry Correct Incorrect After being told her name and image were “too exotic,” she not only changed her name but also dyed her hair, bleached her skin, and underwent electrolysis to raise her hairline.

Silver Screen Collection/Getty Images

This actress’ real name is Margarita Carmen Cansino:

Ava Gardner
Lana Turner
Rita Hayworth
Hedy Lamarr

Bette Davis was hardly seen without one of these:

Retry Correct Incorrect Cigarettes played a huge role in Davis’ public persona—she even reportedly smoked multiple packs per day even after suffering four strokes and breast cancer.

Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Bette Davis was hardly seen without one of these:

A man at her side
A cigarette
Sunglasses
Expensive jewels

In one incident from their longtime feud, she stole Davis’ spotlight at the 1963 Academy Awards:

Retry Correct Incorrect When Bette Davis was nominated for Best Actress at the 1963 Oscars for Whatever Happened To Baby Jane?, in which they both starred, a jealous Crawford called up other nominees who were not attending and offered to accept their Oscar on their behalf.

Silver Screen Collection/Getty Images

In one incident from their longtime feud, she stole Davis’ spotlight at the 1963 Academy Awards:

Joan Crawford
Anne Bancroft
Geraldine Page
Katharine Hepburn

This actress’ trademark was what producers dubbed “The Look,” which was actually just a result of her putting her head down and tilting her eyes up to minimize her nervousness.

Retry Correct Incorrect Lauren Bacall made her film debut in To Have and Have Not alongside Humphrey Bogart.

Silver Screen Collection/Getty Images

This actress’ trademark was what producers dubbed “The Look,” which was actually just a result of her putting her head down and tilting her eyes up to minimize her nervousness.

Audrey Hepburn
Lana Turner
Ingrid Bergman
Lauren Bacall

Before she became an actress, she was a singer whose first hit was 1945’s “Sentimental Journey.”

Retry Correct Incorrect Doris Day starred in Calamity Jane and The Man Who Knew Too Much before starring in her own sitcom throughout the early ’70s.

Bettmann/Getty Images

Before she became an actress, she was a singer whose first hit was 1945’s “Sentimental Journey.”

Judy Garland
June Allyson
Doris Day
Shirley Temple

Before becoming a controversial actress, she wrote provocative plays under the pen name Jane Mast.

Retry Correct Incorrect Mae West became a sex-symbol actress who often spoke in double entendres (sometimes unintentionally) and whose film career didn’t even start until she was close to 40, which was rare at the time.

Bettmann/Getty Images

Before becoming a controversial actress, she wrote provocative plays under the pen name Jane Mast.

Marilyn Monroe
Mae West
Jayne Mansfield
Constance Talmadge

She was discovered in Mexico by filmmaker Edwin Carewe.

Retry Correct Incorrect Dolores del Río is known for films such as Ramona (1928), Bird of Paradise (1932), and Flying Down to Rio (1933).

Keystone Features/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

She was discovered in Mexico by filmmaker Edwin Carewe.

Mercedes McCambridge
Dolores del Río
Myrna Loy
Ida Lupino

Although she was known to be somewhat of a tomboy, by 1937 she was the highest-paid actress in Hollywood, making more than five times the salary of then-president Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Retry Correct Incorrect Carole Lombard’s performance in 1930’s The Arizona Kid landed her a contract with Paramount Pictures, with whom she made Twentieth Century and My Man Godfrey.

John Kobal Foundation/Getty Images

Although she was known to be somewhat of a tomboy, by 1937 she was the highest-paid actress in Hollywood, making more than five times the salary of then-president Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Marlene Dietrich
Bette Davis
Rita Hayworth
Carole Lombard

She is regarded as “The First Lady of the American Theatre.”

Retry Correct Incorrect After success on the stage, Ethel Barrymore transitioned into film and became known for her roles in None but the Lonely Heart.

John Springer Collection/CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images

She is regarded as “The First Lady of the American Theatre.”

Eleanor Powell
Jean Peters
Mary Pickford
Ethel Barrymore

Ingrid Bergman has won an Academy Award for which film?

Retry Correct Incorrect Although she’s won Oscars for these movies, her most notable role is that of Ilsa Lund in Casablanca.

Herbert Dorfman/Corbis via Getty Images

Ingrid Bergman has won an Academy Award for which film?

Anastasia (1956)
Murder on the Orient Express (1974)
Gaslight (1944)
All of the these

She became the first black actress to be nominated for Best Actress at the Oscars.

Retry Correct Incorrect Dorothy Dandridge was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in 1954’s Carmen Jones but lost to Grace Kelly.

Silver Screen Collection/Getty Images

She became the first black actress to be nominated for Best Actress at the Oscars.

Lena Horne
Hattie McDaniel
Dorothy Dandridge
Josephine Baker

Louis B. Mayer, who co-founded MGM, once remarked, “She can’t sing, she can’t act, she can’t talk, she’s terrific!” before offering her a standard contract.

Retry Correct Incorrect Despite her looks, Ava Gardner’s southern accent made her hard to understand, which MGM fixed right away.

Herbert Dorfman/Corbis via Getty Images

Louis B. Mayer, who co-founded MGM, once remarked, “She can’t sing, she can’t act, she can’t talk, she’s terrific!” before offering her a standard contract.

Marilyn Monroe
Ava Gardner
Elizabeth Taylor
Audrey Hepburn

She came to the United States unable to speak a word of English, which was okay since she started out as a silent film star.

Retry Correct Incorrect Greta Garbo made debuted in her first speaking role in 1930’s Anna Christie, for which she received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress.

Bettmann/Getty Images

She came to the United States unable to speak a word of English, which was okay since she started out as a silent film star.

Greta Garbo
Dolores del Río
Marlene Dietrich
Ingrid Bergman

This Los Angeles native dropped out of high school to pursue acting and at 17 had her first leading role in The Toll of the Sea.

Retry Correct Incorrect Despite her talent, Anna May Wong was constantly typecast and couldn’t even land lead roles that were for Asian characters, so she decided to leave Hollywood by the late 1920s.

John Springer Collection/CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images

This Los Angeles native dropped out of high school to pursue acting and at 17 had her first leading role in The Toll of the Sea.

Priscilla Moran
Ming Young
Anna May Wong
Beatrice Bentley

When filming began for A Streetcar Named Desire, director Elia Kazan thought she had little talent despite the fact that she played the role in London’s West End 326 times.

Retry Correct Incorrect Vivien Leigh ended up winning an Academy Award for Best Actress for her portrayal of Blanche DuBois in the film.

Sasha/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

When filming began for A Streetcar Named Desire, director Elia Kazan thought she had little talent despite the fact that she played the role in London’s West End 326 times.

Vivien Leigh
Kim Hunter
Peg Hillias
Janet Leigh

She was the title character in 1944’s Laura and was said to have a short-lived affair with John F. Kennedy.

Retry Correct Incorrect Gene Tierney reportedly met JFK in 1946 on the set of Dragonwyck, but their romance ended when Kennedy told her that his political ambitions prevented him from getting into a serious relationship.

Silver Screen Collection/Getty Images

She was the title character in 1944’s Laura and was said to have a short-lived affair with John F. Kennedy.

Greta Garbo
Gene Tierney
Marilyn Monroe
Marlene Dietrich

Known for her voluptuous figure, Howard Hughes once said of this actress, “There are two good reasons why men go to see her. Those are enough.”

Retry Correct Incorrect Hughes, of course, was referring to her chest. Jane Russell made her film debut in his film, The Outlaw.

20th Century-Fox/Getty Images

Known for her voluptuous figure, Howard Hughes once said of this actress, “There are two good reasons why men go to see her. Those are enough.”

Marilyn Monroe
Jayne Mansfield
Jane Russell
Rita Hayworth

This silent film star’s most popular movie was 1922’s Smilin’ Through.

Retry Correct Incorrect When the silent film era ended, Norma Talmadge starred in two “talkies” which were unsuccessful, which caused the actress to retire.

Hulton-Deutsch Collection/CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images

This silent film star’s most popular movie was 1922’s Smilin’ Through.

Louise Brooks
Mary Pickford
Norma Talmadge
Lillian Gish

She started out as a child actress in the film National Velvet and grew up to be one of the most scandalous actresses in Hollywood.

Retry Correct Incorrect Most of Elizabeth Taylor’s scandals revolved around her extramarital affairs. As a result, she was married eight times—two of which were to actor Richard Burton.

Silver Screen Collection/Getty Images

She started out as a child actress in the film National Velvet and grew up to be one of the most scandalous actresses in Hollywood.

Judy Garland
Marlene Dietrich
Marilyn Monroe
Elizabeth Taylor

People who knew her in high school probably didn’t expect her to become a breakout actress, but after she won the 1948 Miss Burbank contest, she proved them all wrong.

Retry Correct Incorrect Debbie Reynolds breakout role came just four years later when she starred in Singin’ in the Rain.

Silver Screen Collection/Getty Images

People who knew her in high school probably didn’t expect her to become a breakout actress, but after she won the 1948 Miss Burbank contest, she proved them all wrong.

Anne Baxter
Doris Day
Debbie Reynolds
Shirley Temple

She is best known for her role as Baroness Elsa Schraeder in 1965’s The Sound of Music.

Retry Correct Incorrect Before The Sound of Music, Eleanor Parker already had success with films such as Caged, Detective Story, and Interrupted Melody—all films for which she was nominated for Best Actress at the Oscars.

Silver Screen Collection/Getty Images

She is best known for her role as Baroness Elsa Schraeder in 1965’s The Sound of Music.

Eleanor Parker
Lucille Ball
Ann Miller
Julie Andrews

Her real name is Norma Jean Mortenson.

Retry Correct Incorrect When she broke into acting, 20th Century-Fox executive Ben Lyon chose the name Marilyn after Broadway star Marilyn Miller. Monroe got her new last name from her mother’s maiden name.

Bettmann/Getty Images

Her real name is Norma Jean Mortenson.

Ruby Keebler
Eve Arden
Marilyn Monroe
Jayne Mansfield

After meeting Orson Welles when he began working for RKO Pictures, this actress made her film debut as the mother of Charles Foster Kane in Citizen Kane

Retry Correct Incorrect After a successful film career between the Mercury Theatre and MGM, Agnes Moorehead went on to play Endora on Bewitched, which is what she’s best known for.

Bettmann/Getty Images

After meeting Orson Welles when he began working for RKO Pictures, this actress made her film debut as the mother of Charles Foster Kane in Citizen Kane

Agnes Moorehead
Rita Hayworth
Dorothy Comingore
Ruth Warrick

Although she received two Oscar nominations and a Golden Globe for her role in The Picture of Dorian Gray, this actress was considered a B-list actress when she worked with MGM.

Retry Correct Incorrect In the ’80s, Angela Lansbury would become popular for her role as Jessica Fletcher on Murder, She Wrote.

MGM Studios/Getty Images

Although she received two Oscar nominations and a Golden Globe for her role in The Picture of Dorian Gray, this actress was considered a B-list actress when she worked with MGM.

Angela Lansbury
Donna Reed
Mary Forbes
Shirley MacLaine

Before she was the Princess of Monaco, this actress starred in which Alfred Hitchcock film?

Retry Correct Incorrect Grace Kelly was a prominent actress before she married Prince Rainier III in 1956.

Silver Screen Collection/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Before she was the Princess of Monaco, this actress starred in which Alfred Hitchcock film?

Rear Window
Dial M for Murder
All of these
To Catch a Thief

In an effort to rival MGM’s then-superstar Norma Shearer, RKO Pictures signed this actress who would later star in The Animal Kingdom.

Retry Correct Incorrect Ann Harding’s other notable films include Her Private Affair (1929) and Holiday (1930).

John Springer Collection/CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images

In an effort to rival MGM’s then-superstar Norma Shearer, RKO Pictures signed this actress who would later star in The Animal Kingdom.

Myrna Loy
Leslie Howard
Ann Harding
Ilka Chase

This actress made her American film debut in Morocco, after being signed by Paramount to rival MGM’s Greta Garbo, who became her rumored rival.

Retry Correct Incorrect Although many believed Dietrich and Garbo hated each other, they vehemently denied the rumors. Dietrich even named Garbo as one of the biggest movie legends of all time.

Bettmann/Getty Images

This actress made her American film debut in Morocco, after being signed by Paramount to rival MGM’s Greta Garbo, who became her rumored rival.

Rita Hayworth
Eve Southern
Joan Crawford
Marlene Dietrich

This actress auditioned for Scarlett O’Hara while she was signed to MGM in the ’40s, but at that time she was known in many Hollywood circles as “Queen of the B’s” as she was considered a B-list actress.

Retry Correct Incorrect Lucille Ball had the last laugh when she gained international stardom with her classic television sitcom, I Love Lucy.

Silver Screen Collection/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

This actress auditioned for Scarlett O’Hara while she was signed to MGM in the ’40s, but at that time she was known in many Hollywood circles as “Queen of the B’s” as she was considered a B-list actress.

Vivian Vance
Lucille Ball
Doris Day
Judy Garland

This actress has four Academy Awards for Best Actress, which is a record for any performer that has yet to be broken.

Retry Correct Incorrect Katharine Hepburn’s Best Actress Oscars were earned for her roles in Morning Glory, Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner, The Lion in Winter, and On Golden Pond.

Clarence Sinclair Bull/John Kobal Foundation/Getty Images

This actress has four Academy Awards for Best Actress, which is a record for any performer that has yet to be broken.

Bette Davis
Ingrid Bergman
Katharine Hepburn
Olivia de Havilland

Although she was under contract with MGM, she was lent to RKO Pictures to star in It’s a Wonderful Life.

Retry Correct Incorrect Donna Reed later found success through the late ’50s and the ’60s with The Donna Reed Show.

Silver Screen Collection/Getty Images

Although she was under contract with MGM, she was lent to RKO Pictures to star in It’s a Wonderful Life.

Lillian Randolph
Virginia Patton
Donna Reed
Gloria Grahame

As one of the most popular actresses of the silent film era, she was known as the “Queen of the Movies” after gaining popularity in films like Pollyanna and Coquette.

Retry Correct Incorrect Mary Pickford is one of the original 36 founders of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and is a co-founder of Pickford-Fairbanks Studio and United Artists.

Silver Screen Collection/Getty Images

As one of the most popular actresses of the silent film era, she was known as the “Queen of the Movies” after gaining popularity in films like Pollyanna and Coquette.

Louise Brooks
Lillian Gish
Mary Pickford
Clara Bow

This actress was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in 1956’s Giant and actually won in that category for her role in 1949’s All the King’s Men.

Retry Correct Incorrect Before making it in film, Mercedes McCambridge was a prominent radio actress, who later in life provided the voice for ‘The Demon’ in 1973’s The Exorcist.

Bettmann/Getty Images

This actress was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in 1956’s Giant and actually won in that category for her role in 1949’s All the King’s Men.

Anne Seymour
Joanne Dru
Elizabeth Taylor
Mercedes McCambridge

She referred to herself as “the poor man’s Bette Davis” since she often took the roles that Bette Davis refused. She was known for her roles in The Light That Failed and They Drive by Night.

Retry Correct Incorrect Ida Lupino was the first woman to direct a film noir, 1953’s The Hitch-Hiker, and was the only woman in 1950s Hollywood to ever do work behind the camera.

Silver Screen Collection/Getty Images

She referred to herself as “the poor man’s Bette Davis” since she often took the roles that Bette Davis refused. She was known for her roles in The Light That Failed and They Drive by Night.

Fay Wray
Ida Lupino
Lana Turner
Maureen O’Hara

She made history by becoming the first black actress to win an Oscar after winning the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Mammy in Gone with the Wind.

Retry Correct Incorrect Although her most popular role led to a successful career, she was often typecast in domestic roles throughout the ’40s.

Bettmann/Getty Images

She made history by becoming the first black actress to win an Oscar after winning the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Mammy in Gone with the Wind.

Hattie McDaniel
Ethel Waters
Butterfly McQueen
Dorothy Dandridge

This actress said, “I never think of myself as an icon. What is in other’s people’s minds is not in my mind. I just do my thing.”

Retry Correct Incorrect Audrey Hepburn is widely considered an iconic actress for her roles in Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Sabrina, and My Fair Lady.

Hulton Archive/Getty Images

This actress said, “I never think of myself as an icon. What is in other’s people’s minds is not in my mind. I just do my thing.”

Audrey Hepburn
Grace Kelly
Elizabeth Taylor
Katharine Hepburn

Known as “The Queen of Technicolor,” this actress can be seen in films such as Miracle on 34th Street and Comanche Territory.

Retry Correct Incorrect Maureen O’Hara had strong chemistry with John Wayne and was often cast as his co-star in films like Rio Grande and The Quiet Man.

Keystone/Getty Images

Known as “The Queen of Technicolor,” this actress can be seen in films such as Miracle on 34th Street and Comanche Territory.

Maureen O’Hara
Maureen O’Sullivan
Lana Turner
Natalie Wood

Congrats, you finished! Here are your results:

Retry Hmm, maybe you weren’t even alive during The Golden Age of Hollywood. Your knowledge of classic Hollywood cinema seems to be a bit fuzzy. Nice! You know a thing or two about classic Hollywood actresses. You are a classic Hollywood cinema expert!

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