Ava Gardner: Southern Belle and Bombshell

Website: The Golden Years - Ava Gardner

Born in North Carolina in 1922, Ava Gardner took the world by storm and refused to bow down throughout her exciting and sometimes too-wild life. Ever the tomboy, Ava grew up with her six brothers and sisters on her father's tobacco farm, barely scraping by in the harsh 1920s and 30s.

Fortunately, Ava was able to leave the poverty behind at the age of 18, when her brother-in-law put her picture in his photography store window in New York City. That photo caught the eye of an employee at MGM Studios, who quickly arranged to have young Ava take several screen tests in Hollywood. It didn't take long for the offer to arrive on her doorstep, and she signed a $50-per week contract in 1942.

By the time she signed her contract, she had already met a young man in the Hollywood system by the name of Mickey Rooney. Ava was quite surprised when Rooney asked her out on a date, and their whirlwind relationship turned to marriage very quickly. The relationship also ended quickly - they were divorced a short two years later when Ava realized that Rooney would never be faithful to her.

It took four years in the Hollywood system before Ava's star began to glow. She starred in "The Killers" in 1946 with relative newcomer Burt Lancaster and received recognition as a raving beauty and smoldering sexpot.

Ava married again in 1945 - this time to musician Artie Shaw. However, that marriage only lasted one year, as Shaw seemed determined to "improve" Ava's intelligence (he felt she was not smart since she barely had any education in North Carolina). It got to the point where Ava was afraid to speak around Shaw for fear that he would call her stupid in front of their friends. No wonder she divorced him!

Her final marriage began in 1947 to musician Frank Sinatra. If ever there was a tumultuous relationship - it was their marriage. At the time they began their relationship, Sinatra was at the low-point of his career, and seemed to be a fading star while Ava's was on the rise. He was also married to Nancy Sinatra, although the relationship was on its last legs. Several people warned Ava not to get involved with Sinatra, including friends Lana Turner and Howard Hughes. She doggedly continued to see him.