Australian Women's Weekly Icons

Revisit the magic of Hollywood’s golden age with a new Icons issue. From leading lady Lucille Ball’s path to becoming our favourite funny girl to the secret lives of stars including Frank Sinatra, Leslie Caron, Burt Lancaster and more there are 164 page of gripping reads and vintage photos to enjoy.

From the editor

LEADING men • Elvis Presley Maurice Chevalier Peter Lawford

Return to the throne • For a while, it looked like the singer had lost his Midas touch. But when he turned what was supposed to be a Christmas special into a searing reminder of his stage prowess, it would kickstart a third act for the King. Tiffany Dunk reports.

The singer without a voice • The acclaimed entertainer’s six-decade career evoked simpler times that belied a darker, somewhat complex character, reports Tim Gill.

The dashing playboy • A life-changing accident saw the handsome actor pursue a career on both the big and small screens, while running with the Rat Pack and marrying into American royalty.

Stars AT PLAY • Sailing with the stars The Sunset Strip

Sailing with the stars • Whether making a Transatlantic voyage for work or skippering for pleasure, Hollywood brought star power to the water.

Tinseltown playground • In the heart of the city but outside of city jurisdiction, celebrities, gangsters and local residents collided. Maddy Wilson revisits the making of the iconic Sunset Strip.

SCANDALS & tragedy • Thelma Todd I Love Lucy Agatha Christie

Who killed Hot Toddy? • She was a bubbly, blonde, comedic actress whose life was cut short as her star was on the rise. Yet, as the police and the public discovered, her death would raise more questions than it answered. Nicole Hickson investigates.

No laughing matter • I LOVE LUCYToday, the beloved sitcom is remembered for its groundbreaking leading lady and the comedic genius that set the small screen alight. Yet, writes Tiffany Dunk, when the cameras were down, not all was rosy on set.

The greatest whodunnit • The Queen of Crime’s 11-day vanishing act could’ve come straight from her fiction pages, Tim Gill reports.

LEADING ladies • Myrna Loy Jean Seberg Marie Dressler

An independent woman • She was one of the most popular stars of the 1930s but, writes Maddy Wilson, her true passion lay in a far worthier field.

New Wave beauty • Her star ascended slowly but burned bright at its peak. And then the FBI worked to destroy her career, reputation and life.

The unlikeliest star • When Garbo talked, it was another actress whose star would be born, writes Sumaiya Chowdhure. With her white-hot screen expressions and steel like resilience through success and failures, this middle-aged actress continued to steal the spotlight from her glamourous contemporaries.

LOVE & passion • Lana Turner & Tyrone Power Frank Sinatra & Ava Gardner Bette Davis & Gary Merrill

The one that got away • Sparks flew when they hooked up, but the more Lana clung to Tyrone, the more he struggled to break free. Bronwyn Phillips looks at the doomed love affair between Hollywood’s most beautiful couple.

Too hot to handle • She had followed both their careers – and love lives – in her decades-long career. Yet, Hedda Hopper would write in The Weekly, the truth was even more scandalous than the rumours.

The problem with passion • When the pair met on the set of All About Eve, sparks flew. Although their marriage seemed like bliss, behind closed doors it was violent and abusive, ending in divorce – and more than a few bruises – 10 years later, writes Georgia Moore.

Iconic TRAILBLAZERS • Slim Keith Richard Avedon Queen Margrethe II

The stylish socialite • She was the small-town girl who romanced some of the biggest names...