Born 1917 and raised in Manhattan, New York City, American actress Celeste Holm had her first professional theatrical role in a production of Hamlet starring Leslie Howard. She first appeared on Broadway in a small part in Gloriana (1938), and her first major part on Broadway was in William Saroyan’s revival of The Time of Your Life (1940) as Mary L. with fellow newcomer Gene Kelly. The role that got her the most recognition from critics and audiences was as Ado Annie in the premiere production of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Oklahoma! in 1943.
After Holm starred in the Broadway production of Bloomer Girl, 20th Century Fox signed her to a movie contract in 1946. She made her film debut that same year in Three Little Girls in Blue, making a startling entrance in a “Technicolor red” dress singing “Always a Lady,” a belting Ado Annie-type song, although the character was different—a lady.
Holm won an Academy Award for her performance in Elia Kazan’s Gentleman’s Agreement (1947), and was nominated for her roles in Come to the Stable (1949) and All About Eve (1950). She also is known for her performances in The Snake Pit (1948), A Letter to Three Wives (1949), and High Society (1956).
Holm died in 2012 at her Central Park West apartment, aged 95. Take a look at these gorgeous photos to see the beauty of young Celeste Holm in the 1940s and 1950s.
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