Ava Gardner, American actress, 20th century. Ava Gardner's cinematic career began in 1941, but she did not become a star until she appeared opposite Burt Lancaster in The Killers in 1946. Amongst her best-remembered performances are her roles in Mogambo (1953), The Barefoot Contessa (1954) and The Night of the Iguana (1964). (Photo by The Print Collector/Print Collector/Getty Images)