Since the Golden Age of Hollywood ended , Tinsel Town has lost some of its shine. I know I sound pretty biased, but I think overall, looking at what is going on in Hollywood today, we can all agree that the statement has some kind of basis in truth.
This age, which took place from the late 1920s to the early ‘60s (but we’ll be talking about even those who came shortly after), gave rise to countless female icons, such as Bette Davis, Joan Crawford, and Mae West .
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While these women were complete bombshells – adorned in pearls, red lipstick, and pinned-up hair – they proved that you don’t need to show a lot of skin to command attention.
The ladies that came out of 1920s-1970s Hollywood were nothing short of iconic.
Sure, some had scandals, but they didn’t need those or a bad headline in the press to give their name more star power. Their grace, poise, and air of sophistication spoke for them.
Flash-forward to present-day Hollywood and a few select celebrities are still living by these same standards.
Women such as Meryl Streep, Julie Andrews, and Betty White before her passing.
Take Meryl, for instance. She’s one of the most prominent names in Hollywood , having won over 20 Academy Awards.
People often refer to her as one of the best actresses around.
And yet, she doesn’t need a bad headline in the press to remain relevant.
Similarly, you won’t find her leaking nude photos of herself anytime soon – can you imagine??
Meryl was even turned down for a role one time because of her looks. No, I wish I was kidding, but I’m not. Unfortunately, that still happens to many celebrities, men or women, in modern Hollywood.
But to Meryl, this happened many years ago for the film ‘King Kong.’
An Italian director had the audacity to call the legendary actress “ugly” when he thought she couldn’t understand him.
In a total boss move, Streep replied in fluent Italian : “I’m sorry I’m not beautiful enough to be in ‘King Kong.'”
Boom! Another celebrity who has won our hearts through her classiness is Julie Andrews.
You know the 86-year-old actress from her iconic films over the decades such as The Sound of Music , Mary Poppins , and The Princess Diaries .
Julie has always been synonymous with elegance and her distinct angelic voice.
What she has not been synonymous with is a scandal in the press.
This is even after she was married to a man who was 13 years older than her, or after she lost her vocal cords in a botched surgery.
Julie weathered the storm and was graceful throughout the entire thing. She has been, and will always be, one of the greatest icons in Hollywood. And personally, she’s one of my all-time favorite actresses ( Sound of Music is still one of my favorite films of all time).
Another example of grace in Hollywood is Dolly Parton.
Although Dolly has certainly always been known for her, er, assets, she’s proven that there’s more to her than meets the eye. People have constantly underestimated her, that much has been very clear through the years.
She’s in her 70s and yet, she’s more progressive than most. In fact, she’s one of the most current popular role models for women, and is pretty much universally beloved by all because of all the good that she does for the world.
She’s a pioneer of feminism and an LGBTQ ally.
She has also been super active in charities, having built her own non-profit organization .
So while she’s out there, loud and proud, with her big, blonde hair and even bigger “girls,” that’s not the first thing people think when they see Dolly.
They think of her sweet nature, how giving she is, and how she supports the LGBTQ community.
It’s fair to say that these three women are received in totally different ways than some celebrities today (and the list goes on and on, like Diana Ross, Rita Moreno, and so many more).
Take the Kardashians, for example. We hate to rag on them, but all it takes is a quick search to find something scandalous about their lives online.
This could be a nude photo being posted or baby daddy drama.
While there’s nothing wrong with showing some skin – we all deserve to love and embrace our bodies full-heartedly – there was a time when that’s all celebs like the Kardashians did.
It brought in the likes on Instagram and that’s how a lot of influencers also get tons of followers on whatever social media account they are on.
This is something that caused Bette Midler, most known for her role in ‘Hocus Pocus’ to publicly criticize.
After Kim Kardashian posted a naked selfie of herself, Bette tweeted, “If Kim wants us to see a part of her we’ve never seen, she’s gonna have to swallow the camera.”
Chloë Grace Mortez also tweeted about the impact Kim’s photo would have on young women.
“I truly hope you realize how important setting goals are for young women, teaching them we have so much more to offer than just our bodies,” she wrote.
Since then, Kim has done just that.
She’s become so much more than the crazy outfits she wears or the selfie she posts.
She recently passed the baby bar and is well on her way to becoming a lawyer, like her late father, Robert.
Her sister, Kylie, another selfie risk-taker, is also one of the world’s youngest billionaires.
By becoming lawyers and successful businesswomen, the Kardashian family has given their resumes substance.
They aren’t just talented for nothing — as Barbara Walter once said.
We’re glad that these celebrities have classy women to look up to.
So thank you to celebs like Meryl Streep, Jane Fonda, Julie Andrews, Helen Mirren, the late Betty White, and more, for paving the way for all of us!
