Ava Gardner

Ava Lavinia Gardner was an eminent American actress and singer who captured the minds of countless number of people during her span. Her nicknames used to be Snowdrop, Angel and The Christmas Eve Girl. She was selected by Empire magazine as one of the 100 Sexiest Stars in the history of cinema, in 1995.

She was born in a poor conventional family on 24th December 1922 in North Carolina situated in USA. She was the youngest of the seven children. Her parents, Mary Elizabeth "Molly" and Jonas Bailey Gardner, had a humble life. Gardener did her graduation in Rock Ridge high school. Later she decided to pursue her career as an actress. After doing a couple of small roles in various movies she gained her breakthrough with the film named “the killers” released in 1946 where she played the role of a femme fatale Kitty Collins opposite screen newcomer Burt Lancaster.

From then onwards she received a number of opportunities worth to prove her talent. Her character in the film The Night The Night is a web series that was released in 202 >> Read More... of the Iguana as Maxine Faulk marked the milestone of her career. She played the role of a gentle artist journeying with her aged poet grandfather. She appears to be an independent woman, as she runs a hotel by herself and does not keep quiet about her opinion. Movie progresses through her state of confusion and towards the end she realises that she needs someone who can take care of her. She married Mickey Rooney on 10th January 1942 and was separated on 21st May 1943. Later on she married Artie Shaw (17 October 1945 - 25 October 1946) and Frank Sinatra (7 November 1951 - 5 July 1957).But these relationships also ended up in divorce.

After three failed marriages she was depressed with her Hollywood life and she chose to stay in Spain in 1955.There she became good friends with the prominent writer Ernest Hemingway. She was given an nomination for an Academy Award for her signature character as Eloise Kelly a show girl who falls in love with Victor Marswell portrayed by Clark Gable Popularly called as “The King of Hollywood”, Clark >> Read More... in the movie Mogambo. Her brilliant acting as Maxine Faulk in ‘the Night of the Iguana’ (1964) had great critical acclaim, and she garnered nomination for a BAFTA Award and a Golden Globe. Ava Gardner won the San Sebastián prize for best actress for her acting in The Night of the Iguana in 1964.

She passed away at the age 67 due to bronchial pneumonia on January 25, 1990 in the place of Westminster, London, England. Museum of memorabilia in Smithfield, North Carolina is named after Ava Gardner. Parts of her memories have been published in the book named ‘Ava Gardner: The Secret Conversations’.