20 Stunning Photos of Classic Golden Globe-Winning Actresses
20 Stunning Photos of Classic Golden Globe-Winning Actresses
2 minute read
Ingrid Bergman, who won three Golden Globes for Best Actress in a Motion Picture — Drama, (for Gaslight in 1945, The Bells of St. Mary's in 1946 and Anastasia in 1957) and one Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Miniseries or TV Movie (for A Woman Called Gloria in 1983). Pictured here on the set of Stromboli, 1949.Gordon Parks—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
The Golden Globes might be the Oscars’ slightly less gilded little sister, but it has bestowed that golden statuette to some of history’s finest actresses — on both big screen and small — since its inaugural ceremony in 1944.
Years before Amy and Tina took the stage, before your Benings and your Blanchetts, your Dunhams and your Daneses, a different crop of actresses commanded the attention of the Hollywood Foreign Press. Queens of comedy like Carol Burnett paved the way for comediennes to come. The Comedy or Musical category saw more of the latter than today’s awards do, dominated by the voices of Judy Garland, Julie Andrews and Barbra Streisand. Shirley MacLaine and Rosalind Russell reigned with five wins apiece until they were finally, inevitably, eclipsed by Meryl Streep.
It’s hard not to notice the staggering lack of diversity among winners and nominees alike — not until 1986, when Whoopi Goldberg won for The Color Purple, did a black actress take home a Globe. The homogeneity of ceremonies past represents as much a lack of opportunity for black actresses as anything else, a situation which is changing, if gradually. This year, the directors’ field could see its first win by a black woman, with the nomination of Ava DuVernay for the highly acclaimed Selma.
These stars of Hollywood past — some of whom, like MacLaine and Streisand, continue to churn out new work — were invariably documented in the pages of LIFE. And what better time than now, as we wait to find out which of this year’s nominees will emerge victorious, to take a walk down memory lane and revisit the forebears of today’s red carpet royalty.
Liz Ronk, who edited this gallery, is the Photo Editor for LIFE.com. Follow her on Twitter at @LizabethRonk.
Ingrid Bergman, who won three Golden Globes for Best Actress in a Motion Picture — Drama, (for Gaslight in 1945, The Bells of St. Mary's in 1946 and Anastasia in 1957) and one Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Miniseries or TV Movie (for A Woman Called Gloria in 1983). Pictured here on the set of Stromboli, 1949.Gordon Parks—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty ImagesRosalind Russell, who won two Golden Globes for Best Actress in a Motion Picture — Drama (Sister Kenny in 1947 and Mourning Becomes Electra in 1948) and three Golden Globes for Best Actress in a Motion Picture — Comedy or Musical (Auntie Mame in 1959, A Majority of One in 1962 and Gypsy in 1963). Pictured here on the set of Auntie Mame, 1956.Howard Sochurek—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty ImagesOlivia de Havilland, who won Best Actress in a Motion Picture — Drama for The Heiress in 1950. Pictured here in 1945.Nina Leen—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty ImagesEthel Merman, who won Best Actress in a Motion Picture — Comedy or Musical for Call Me Madam in 1954. Pictured here in a theater production of Call Me Madam, 1950.Eliot Elisofon—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty ImagesJudy Garland, who won Best Actress in a Motion Picture — Comedy or Musical for A Star is Born in 1955. Pictured here in 1944.Bob Landry—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty ImagesAnita Ekberg, who won for most promising newcomer in 1956. Pictured here in 1951.Allan Grant—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty ImagesDeborah Kerr, who won Best Actress in a Motion Picture — Comedy or Musical for The King and I in 1957. Pictured here in 1947.Bob Landry—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty ImagesJoanne Woodward, who won two Golden Globes for Best Actress in a Motion Picture — Drama, first in 1958 for The Three Faces of Eve and again in 1969 for Rachel, Rachel. Pictured here in The Three Faces of Eve, 1957.Ralph Crane—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty ImagesElizabeth Taylor, who won Best Actress in a Motion Picture — Drama for Suddenly, Last Summer in 1960. Pictured here with Montgomery Clift, 1950.Peter Stackpole—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty ImagesMarilyn Monroe won Best Actress in a Motion Picture — Comedy or Musical for Some Like It Hot in 1960. Pictured here in 1957.Peter Stackpole—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty ImagesShirley MacLaine, who won two Golden Globes for Best Actress in a Motion Picture — Comedy or Musical (for The Apartment in 1961 and Irma la Douce in 1964) and two Golden Globes for Best Actress in a Motion Picture — Drama (Terms of Endearment in 1984 and Madame Sousatzka in 1989). Pictured here in Irma La Douce, 1963.Gjon Mili—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty ImagesJulie Andrews, who won three Golden Globes for Best Actress in a Motion Picture — Comedy or Musical, first in 1965 for Mary Poppins, again in 1966 for The Sound of Music and again in 1983 for Victor Victoria. Pictured here as Cinderella, 1957.Gordon Parks—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty ImagesAnne Bancroft, who won one Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Motion Picture — Drama (The Pumpkin Eater in 1965) and one Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Motion Picture — Comedy or Musical (The Graduate in 1968). Pictured here in The Miracle Worker, 1959.Nina Leen—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty ImagesLynn Redgrave, who won Best Actress in a Motion Picture — Drama for Georgy Girl in 1967. Pictured here in Georgy Girl, 1966.Terence Spencer—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty ImagesCarol Burnett, who won five Golden Globes for The Carol Burnett Show, one for Best TV Star – Female in 1968, and four for Best TV Actress – Musical/Comedy in 1970, 1972, 1977 and 1978. Pictured here in The Best of Everything, 1958.Nina Leen—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty ImagesBarbra Streisand, who won two Golden Globes for Best Actress in a Motion Picture — Comedy or Musical, first in 1969 for Funny Girl, and again in 1977 for A Star Is Born. Pictured here in 1966Bill Eppridge—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty ImagesAli MacGraw, who won Best Actress in a Motion Picture — Drama for Love Story in 1971. Pictured here on the set of Love Story, 1970.Michael Rougier—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty ImagesJane Fonda, who won three Golden Globes for Best Actress in a Motion Picture — Drama, first in 1972 for Klute, again in 1978 for Julia and again in 1979 for Coming Home. Pictured here in 1961.Gjon Mili—THe LIFE Picture Collection/Getty ImagesPatricia Neal, who won Best Actress in a Television Series – Drama in 1972 for The Homecoming: A Christmas Story. Pictured here in 1947.Nina Leen—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty ImagesLiza Minnelli, who won Best Actress in a Motion Picture — Comedy or Musical in 1973 for Cabaret. Pictured here in 1965.Bill Eppridge—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
