Ginger Rogers

Ginger Rogers (born Virginia Katherine McMath, July 16, 1911 – April 25, 1995) was an iconic figure in America's Golden Age of Hollywood. Rogers was renowned for her compelling performances as an actress, dancer, and singer, garnering an Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in 'Kitty Foyle' (1940). During the 1930s, she created magic on-screen with Fred Astaire in RKO's musical films. Her remarkable career traversed multiple platforms—stage, radio, and television—spanning much of the 20th century. Known for transforming the Hollywood musical genre, Rogers along with Astaire, were responsible for giving RKO Pictures some of its greatest successes with films like 'The Gay Divorcee' (1934), 'Top Hat' (1935), and 'Swing Time' (1936). Her acting prowess also shone in both dramatic and comedy films, earning her acclaim from critics and audiences alike. She was later recognized as one of the biggest box-office draws and highest-paid actresses of the 1940s. Despite a dip in her film career by the mid-1950s, Rogers remained in the limelight, returning to Broadway in 1965 and continuing to perform on television up to 1987. She is credited with having made 73 films and is ranked number 14 on the AFI's 100 Years...100 Stars list of female stars of classic American cinema.