Jane Russell, voluptuous star of films The Outlaw and Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, has died at 89, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
The actress first came to Hollywood's attention as a discovery of eccentric billionaire Howard Hughes, who attempted to capitalize on Russell's staggering figure in his controversial film The Outlaw, which was shot in 1941 but not released until 1946.
Russell was a favorite of gay audiences primarily for her costarring role opposite late screen legend Marilyn Monroe in Blondes, arguably her most famous film. Though the film was a showcase for two of cinema's sexiest bombshells, it is appreciated by gay audiences for Russell's unbelievably homoerotic number, "Ain't There Anyone Here For Love," in which the brunet actress cavorts with musclemen clad only in flesh-colored shorts.
She is long gone but never forgotten.
Marilyn Monroe, star of such classic films as Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, The Seven Year Itch, Some Like It Hot, How to Marry a Millionaire and Bus Stop, was born born Norma Jeane Mortenson on June 1, 1926 in Los Angeles.
She signed her first studio contract with Twentieth Century Fox on August 26, 1946. Earned $125 a week, Norma Jeane dyed her hair blonde and changed her name to Marilyn Monroe (her grandmother’s last name).
On the early morning of August 5, 1962, 36-year-old Marilyn died in her sleep at her Brentwood, California home.
The world was stunned.
It was announced last month at the Cannes Film Festival that Naomi Watts will play Monroe in a biopic based on author Joyce Carol Oates’s controversial, fictionalized memoir, 2000’s Blonde. The movie, also called Blonde, is reportedly slated to start filming in January.
Meanwhile, Michelle Williams is in active negotiations to play Monroe in a film directed by Simon Curtis, which focuses on the late screen legend’s time spent in England while filming 1957’s The Prince and the Showgirl with Laurence Olivier.
Movie legend Judy Garland has been named the top female gay icon of all time in a new online poll.
The late Hollywood star was voted above celebrities including Kylie Minogue and Madonna, who were named second and third respectively, and another film icon, Marilyn Monroe, who came in sixth place.
Meanwhile Sir Elton John was awarded the title for the top male gay icon in the survey by http://www.onepoll.com/.
The Rocket Man was placed above late Queen star Freddie Mercury, British actor Stephen Fry, and Faith hitmaker George Michael, as well as playwright Oscar Wilde, who rounded out the top five.
A spokesperson from http://www.onepoll.com/, who commissioned the survey of over 5,000 gay men and women, said: “Interestingly only one of the men in the top 10 list of male celebrity gay icons isn’t gay – David Beckham. And yet most of the women put on a pedestal by the gay community are straight.
“It just shows that to advocate a certain way of living, you don’t have to live the lifestyle but simply be more accepting of those around you.”
Check out the top ten female and male gay icons of all time below:
Top Ten Female Celebrity Gay Icons:
1. Judy Garland
2. Kylie Minogue
3. Madonna
4. Cher
5. Liza Minnelli
6. Marilyn Monroe
7. Shirley Bassey
8. Lily Savage
9. Dusty Springfield
10. Barbra Streisand
Top Ten Male Celebrity Gay Icons of All Time:
1. Elton John
2. Freddie Mercury
3. Stephen Fry
4. George Michael
5. Oscar Wilde
6. Will Young
7. Alan Carr
8. Paul O’Grady
9. Boy George
10. David Beckham
Actress Michelle Williams has been tipped to take on the role of Marilyn Monroe in a new movie about the screen icon.
The Brokeback Mountain star has reportedly been offered the lead in upcoming film My Week With Marilyn, winning the title role ahead of other actresses including Scarlett Johansson and Amy Adams who are both said to have been considered for the part.
British newspaper the Daily Mail reports director Simon Curtis and producer David Parfitt picked Williams to play Monroe, but are still waiting for the Oscar-nominated star to agree.
The picture will document Monroe's time filming 1957 movie The Prince and The Showgirl with Laurence Olivier and is based on a diary kept by the film's assistant director Colin Clarke.
My Week With Marilyn is due to begin shooting in London in June
Jane Russell, voluptuous star of films The Outlaw and Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, has died at 89, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
