Starlets, The World’s Most Envied of Girls

Article from the American magazine LIFE, 29 January 1940
To millions of young girls the world over, the ultimate pinnacle of achievement is to be a movie star. Of these millions, perhaps a hundred each year crash the magic gates of Hollywood. Of this 100, perhaps 25 survive initial training, get better parts, move up the ladder to stardom. Of the 25, three or four at best reach the top. Meet a few of them here.

Mary Healy in play suit was
once a New Orleans Typist.
Lovely voice and figure now
rule very high among starlets.

Dorris Bowden in street dress, stylish here, played home-
spun girl in “Young Mr Lincoln” and “The Grapes of Wrath”

Linda Darnell in slacks is considered Hollywood’s most beautiful girl. She started playing lead in her first two movies.

Here LIFE presents a cross section of the newest crop of starlets. Some are brand new, some have been rediscovered. All have been singled out for notable miming in 1939. One, Linda Darnell, has in her first year practically sealed the heights.
All seven strangely enough, come from the South or the West. They average 5ft 4in in height, 109 lb in weight, 2o years in age. Most of them cut their acting teeth in high school or little-theatre plays, where they were spied by roving talent scouts. Now they are being tempered in training that would wilt all but the most determined. Their days are filled with acting, singing, dancing, dictating, school studies (if they’re under 18). In “spare” hours they pose for fashion picture, “leg” pictures, sports pictures. All the time they are told what to do, what to say, how to dress, where to go, whom to be with. For enduring this discipline, they get at first 75 dollars a week. Only if they obey implicitly and only if in addition, by some magic of beauty, personality or talent, they touch off an active response in millions of movie fans, will a few of them know the full flower of stardom, with it’s fabulous rewards of fame and wealth.

HELEN PARRISH:
PERT YOUNG MISS
Real name:
Helen Virginia Parrish
Born:
March 12 1923, Columbus Ga.
Discovered:
at 3, in “Mad About Music ”
Hobby:
Collecting charms for her bracelet.
Likes:
Fried chicken
Best Movie:
First Love
Speciality:
Meany parts

DORRIS BOWDEN:
HOMESPUN HEROIN
Real name:
Dorris Estelle Bowden
Born:
Dec. 27 1917, Coldwater Miss.
Discovered:
Playing at Louisiana State University
Favourite sport:
Walking
Likes:
Sleeps
Ambition:
To be as good as Helen Hayes
Speciality:
Unglamorized girls

JUDITH BARRET:
DRAMATIC GIRL
Real name:
Lucille Kelly
Born:
Feb 2 1913, Venus Tex.
Discovered:
On Los Angeles Stage
Favourite sport:
Horseback riding
Likes:
Home, bicycling, Eggnogs
in the morning
Ambition:
To have lots of money
Speciality:
Dramatic roles

LANA TURNER:
“GLAMOUR PLUS” GIRL
Real name:
Julia Jeanne Lana Turner
Born:
Feb 8 1921, Wallace, Idaho.
Discovered:
In a Hollywood tearoom
Hobby:
Water colours
Likes:
Clothes, lemon chiffon pie,
china elephants
Best Movie.
Dancing co-eds
Speciality:
Once Harlow “oomph” roles,
now “typical girl”

LINDA DARNELL:
CHARMING BEAUTY
Real name:
Monetta Eloyse Darnell
Born:
Oct 16 1923, Dallas Tex.
Discovered:
movie scout
Hobby:
Painting
Favourite sport:
Roller skating
Likes:
Rabbits, but they give her hay fever
Best Movie:
Daytime Wife
Speciality:
Sophisticated charm, youthful beauty

LARAINE DAY:
WISTFUL INGÉNUE
Real name:
Loraine Johnson
Born:
Oct 13 1917, Roosevelt Utah
Discovered:
Long Beach little theatre
Favourite sport:
Hobby:
Own little theatre
Favourite sport:
Riding roller coasters
Likes:
Eating hamburgers
Best Movie:
Dr Kildare
Speciality:
Playing a lovely young nurse