Carmen Miranda, she of the crazy fruity hats , colourful costumes and ridiculously high platform shoes, was a multi talented singer, dancer and actress who created a sensation when she was first discovered in Hollywood.
Before making her first Hollywood film, however, she had been a radio star and was Brazil’s most famous samba singer. Her gramophone records were incredibly popular especially in Rio in the 1930s. Miranda made her Broadway debut in a show called ‘Streets of Paris’ and was an instant success with her audiences. 
Not a conventional beauty she had devised a character with zest. verve and comedic timing who could fit well into any staged scenario. She and the character she devised soon became inseparable and the warm, funny, talented Brazilian Bombshell was born. She had actually started working at only fourteen in a hat shop and it was there that she learned to make those crazy hats for which she would later become so famous.
Always cast in roles where she could shine as a problem solving show stopper there to lend her zany style of wisdom to main characters who got themselves into romantic difficulties. In her very first major film made in 1940,she starred with Betty Grable, Don Ameche and Cesar Romero, three of the most famous stars of the day, and held her own as a loveable ,wise cracking performer who becomes friend and confidante to Betty Grable. This would become the formula for all her future films.
But while extremely popular in the U.S. she was frowned upon in Brazil for her stock portrayal of Latin American women. For this reason she did not return to Brazil for many years and was extremely hurt by the animosity she felt from her own country. In films such as ‘That Night In Rio’ and ‘ The Lady In The Tuitti Fruity Hat’ she continued to play the same type of character and by 1945 was Hollywood’s highest paid actress.
Carmen Miranda married David Sebastian who had been the producer on one of her films. 
It is said that it was not a happy marriage and that he was abusive toward her. Whatever the truth is she was dead by the age of 46 of a heart attack. Carmen Miranda was , in actual fact , a creative genius, a one off who is imitated all over the world. That is something that cannot be said for many of the traditionally ‘Beautiful’ actresses who graced Hollywood in it’s golden age. So all of you girls who are unique take heart and be the very best you can at what it is you do.
I… I … I .. I like you very much…..
© Renee Dallow
( Hybiscus Bloom )
He also loved ships and sailed the South Pacific on fishing trawlers looking for adventure. Errol was the full package. He was indeed the perfect specimin which , ironically, was the title of one of his earlier films . 
Flynn made his first Australian film ‘Mutiny On The Bounty’ having been discovered by film makers while sailing through to New Guinea. 
He followed this up by travelling to England and joining a repertory company where he gained his acting experience. Of course it wasn’t long before Hollywood took notice after a Hollywood producer caught one of his stage performances. It was probably Errol’s well honed physic and chiselled good looks that made first impression rather than his acting talents which were still quite raw. 
Flynn also had incredible charm, a cheeky sense of humour and a keen intellect.He was also a ladies man and usually managed to win over his leading ladies.
Errols first big film for Hollywood was ‘Captain Blood’ with Olivia De-Havilland and this film made him a huge star immediately. He was a sensation. He went on to star in …’They Died With Their Boots On’ ,which was the story of General Custer,
‘The Charge Of The Light Brigade’ and of course the film for which he’s probably most famous, ‘Robin Hood’
Errol was equally adept at Westerns and was wonderful in ‘Dodge City’ and in’San
Antonio’ with Alexis Smith. He had many leading ladies along the way including ‘Anita Louise’ and even Bette Davis in ‘Elisabeth And Essex’
but the one with whom he made the most films was Olivia De-Havilland.They made a total of eight films together.
All down to chemistry. She was soft, calm and demure while he was all energy. They were apparently very attracted to each other but never acted upon it. Probably very wise of Olivia for Errol was not exactly the faithful type. He married three times notably to Lili Damita and Patrice Wymore. Errol died in his 50s and had many different diseases. He drank, he partied and he slept around until the day he died. Yep he certainly lived it up while he had the chance. He was still beautiful in a wasted sort of way when he died. Loved you Errol. There’ll never be another you.
Well, not that we know of. What on earth leads one to make any connection whatsoever between Marilyn and the queen you may ask? I must admit it is a little outrageous. 
But like the queen and like Diana , whom the queen did not like at all, Marilyn was a queen of hearts. Marilyn actually met the queen though when she made ‘The Prince And The Showgirl’ with Sir Laurence Olivier.
Apparently Olivier did not appreciate her talent at all until after he saw the film and then was enamoured by her inspired performance. After all He had his own ‘Queen Of Hearts’ in Vivien Leigh ( Scarlett O’Hara ) who also died tragically though not so young as Marilyn.
I guess it was really the difference between diamonds and pearls. Marilyn certainly knew which of these precious gems men most associated with her.
Joan Crawford wore red in the film ‘The Bride Wore Red’ and replaced Louise Rainer, a two time oscar winner, who should have worn the gown.
Audrey Hepburn wore red in ‘Sabrina’ for a modelling jaunt and Jean Harlow sizzled in red way before Marilyn Monroe.
A little difficult to see Joan Crawford as an innocent though. Yet she wore the stunning red gown for exactly the same reason. To snare the millionaire. Gene Tierney looked amazing in red with purple sash and Claudette Colbert in ‘Palm Beach Story simply rocked it. Even Lauren Bacall looked magnificent in red.
But I think the one who really carried it off to full effect was Cyd Charisse in a dance number from ‘Band Wagon’ In this case more costume than gown but with that figure and that face she could have got away with it anywhere.
Bourgeoise Bloomers 