Marlene Dietrich

Marie Magdalene "Marlene" Dietrich was a German-born American actress and singer who brought a seductive style and an aura of strong will to her performances. Born on 27 December 1901 in Berlin, Germany, Dietrich's career spanned nearly seven decades. She began her career in 1920s Berlin, performing on stage and film and landed her breakthrough role in The Blue Angel in 1930. This led to a contract with Paramount Pictures and a successful run in Hollywood, appearing in films like Morocco, Dishonored, and Shanghai Express. Throughout World War II, Dietrich was a high-profile entertainer in the United States. In addition to her film career, she toured the world as a successful live-show performer from the 1950s to the 1970s. Known for her humanitarian efforts during World War II, Dietrich provided financial support for German and French exiles and advocated for their American citizenship. She received honors from the United States, France, Belgium, and Israel for her work in improving morale on the war front. In 1999, the American Film Institute named Dietrich the ninth greatest female screen legend of classic Hollywood cinema.