Discover the story of an actress, who earned fame and fortune with a seductive smile, an eye-popping hourglass figure, and a “dumb blonde” persona that belied the fact that she spoke five languages and was a concert violist and pianist.
Jayne Mansfield was an American actress in film, theatre, and television. She was also a nightclub entertainer, a singer, and one of the early Playboy Playmates. She was a major Hollywood sex symbol of the 1950s and early 1960s. She was 20th Century Fox's answer to Marilyn Monroe and came to be known as the "Working Man's Monroe” and as America’s “Smartest Dumb Blonde.” She was also known for her well-publicized personal life and publicity stunts, such as wardrobe malfunctions. Jayne became a major Broadway star in 1955, a major Hollywood star in 1956, and a leading celebrity in 1957. Her film and stage career was short-lived, yet she experienced several box office successes and won a Theatre World Award and a Golden Globe. She enjoyed success in the role of fictional actress Rita Marlowe, both in the 1955–1956 Broadway version and the 1957 Hollywood film version of
Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter?
She showcased her comedic skills in
The Girl Can't Help It
(1956), her dramatic assets in
The Wayward Bus
(1957), and her sizzling presence in
Too Hot to Handle
(1960). She also sang for studio recordings, including the album Shakespeare, Tchaikovsky & Me and the single “As the Clouds Drift By,” which was backed with “Suey,” both featuring legendary guitarist Jimi Hendrix). Jayne’s notable television work included television dramas
Follow the Sun
and
Burke's Law
, game shows
The Match Game
What's My Line?
, variety shows
The Jack Benny Program
The Bob Hope Show
,
The Ed Sullivan Show
, and a large number of talk shows. By the early 1960s, Jayne’s box office popularity had declined and Hollywood studios lost interest in her. In the sexploitation film
Promises! Promises!
(1963), she became the first major American actress to have a nude starring role in a Hollywood motion picture. She was married three times and had three children. The world was stunned when died in a car accident at the young age of thirty-four. This profusely illustrated biography reveals her private life, her tragic death, and her roles in films, stage plays, and television appearances. Everything you've ever wanted to know about her can be found in
Affectionately, Jayne Mansfield.