Mae West
Younger readers may not know that this was once one of the biggest stars in Hollywood, with an entertainment career that spanned seven decades. Mae West was a controversial figure in her day, seen as a sex symbol in early Hollywood films. She often brushed up against censorship standards of the Depression era, but turned the system on its head with her effortless comedic timing. Once asked about the numerous attempts to censor her, West replied, “I believe in censorship. I made a fortune out of it.”
West turned to playwriting and screenwriting as her acting career slowed, and she continued in those ventures for much of the rest of her life. Here, West poses for a photo in 1930.