Rita Hayworth, born Margarita Carmen Cansino on October 17, 1918, in Brooklyn, New York, ascended to become one of Hollywood’s most captivating stars of the 1940s.
Starting her career as a dancer, Hayworth was signed by Fox Film Corporation at a young age, but she truly blossomed under Columbia Pictures.
The studio makeover transformed her into the alluring “Rita Hayworth” by altering her hairline, hair color, and even her name. This reinvention catapulted her into stardom with the success of movies like “Only Angels Have Wings” (1939) and particularly “Gilda” (1946), where her performance of “Put the Blame on Mame” became iconic.
Despite her onscreen allure, Hayworth’s personal life was fraught with challenges. She married five times, including a high-profile union with Prince Aly Khan, which brought immense media attention.
However, her relationships often mirrored the complexity and turbulence of her film roles, leading to a somewhat tumultuous personal life. Off the screen, she struggled with the pressures of her image, once famously saying, “Men go to bed with Gilda, but wake up with me.”
Hayworth’s career spanned several decades, during which she evolved from a dance partner to Fred Astaire in musicals to a dramatic actress who could carry films with her depth and presence. Her legacy in cinema is marked by her versatility and ability to captivate audiences with her elegance and emotional depth.
In her later years, Rita Hayworth faced Alzheimer’s disease, a battle that lasted until her passing on May 14, 1987.
