Louise Brooks The Original Hollywood Bad Girl (1920)
Have you ever wondered where the perplexing yet stylish “Prince Valient” hairdo from the Roaring Twenties came from? Louise Brooks, an actress, and rebel originated this style and the entire Flapper Girl character from that era. She was as sharp as a whip, loved to drink and dance, and refused to follow anyone’s rules. While being dubbed a “drunken tramp” and a “snake,” Louise went on to create two tremendously successful films, despite never complying with Hollywood’s ever-changing conservative standards.
Vivien Leigh as Cleopatra (1945)
Heath Ledger was hardly the first actor whose career was ruined by method acting in a dark role. Vivien Leigh was likewise a victim of the emotional devastation caused by her role in A Streetcar Named Desire, which sent her into a downward spiral from which she never fully recovered. Her performance as Cleopatra was one of her final as she increasingly deteriorated, overpowered by the screenplay for the Streetcar film, which caused her to act erratically, disoriented, and hysterical, finally sending her to shock therapy for treatment, which, as we all know now, just made matters worse.
Tallulah Bankhead (1931)
Tallulah Bankhead had a charisma that no other actress could match. She was forthright, bright, and hilarious, and she enjoyed putting on a show wherever for shock value. So it’s no surprise that Hitchcock sought her out for one of his films since she was ideal for any of his parts. Tallulah was also rumored never to wear panties on stage because she had to climb a ladder every day to go to the set location, producing quite a spectacle.
24-year-old Actress Peg Entwistle Jumped Off The Hollywood Sign Killing Herself (1932)
More than simply, celebrity consumes Hollywood. There is a powerful aura of tragedy that virtually imprisons individuals who try to live out their ambitions. Such is the case with one actress who has become something of an urban legend. Peg Entwistle is recognized for something considerably more somber than her professional career. Peg committed herself by jumping from the Hollywood sign after finishing her debut film. She left an enigmatic letter, and to this day, only unconfirmed ideas surround the true reason she committed herself.