Lana Turner (February 8, 1921 – June 29, 1995) was an American actress. Over a career spanning nearly five decades, she achieved fame as both a pin-up model and a film actress, as well as for her highly publicized personal life. In the 1930s, Turner transitioned from a teenage girl in poverty to a Hollywood sensation known as the “Sweater Girl.”
In 1936, 15-year-old Julia Jean Turner was a student at Hollywood High School. While skipping a typing class to buy a Coca-Cola at the Top Hat Malt Shop, she was spotted by William R. Wilkerson, publisher of The Hollywood Reporter. This chance encounter led to her being signed by director Mervyn LeRoy, who suggested she change her name to Lana.
She made her screen debut in the 1937 film They Won’t Forget. Despite a small role, her appearance in a tight-fitting sweater earned her the nickname “The Sweater Girl,” a title she famously detested because it overemphasized her physical attributes. Originally signed to Warner Bros. for $50 a week, she followed LeRoy to MGM in 1938, where her career truly accelerated.
Born a brunette, Turner’s look was meticulously crafted by studios. In 1939, she bleached her hair blonde for the film Idiot’s Delight, a change that became her signature and led to her being dubbed the "Nightclub Queen" by the press.
By the end of the 1930s, she had moved from a $50-a-week contract to becoming a top-billed actress, setting the stage for her peak stardom as a femme fatale in the 1940s.
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