Jane Russell remains one of the most captivating figures of Hollywood’s golden age—a woman whose appeal, talent, and confidence defined an era.
With her smoky voice, striking figure, and unmistakable screen presence, she became an emblem of 1940s and 1950s glamour.
Born in Minnesota and raised in California, Russell’s path to stardom began when she caught the attention of eccentric billionaire and filmmaker Howard Hughes.
In 1940, Hughes signed her to a seven-year contract, setting the stage for her unforgettable debut in The Outlaw (1943)—a provocative Western centered on the legend of Billy the Kid.
The film was completed in 1941 but delayed for years due to conflicts with censors who objected to the way Russell’s image was portrayed.
When it finally reached theaters, the controversy only fueled her fame, transforming her into one of Hollywood’s most talked-about leading ladies.
Russell’s statuesque beauty—she stood 5 feet 7 inches tall with measurements of 38-24-36—made her stand out from her contemporaries.
Her favorite co-star, Bob Hope, famously introduced her as “the two and only Jane Russell,” and joked that “culture is the ability to describe Jane Russell without moving your hands.”
Even Howard Hughes couldn’t resist commenting, saying, “There are two good reasons why men go to see her. Those are enough.”
Despite her reputation as a Hollywood bombshell, Russell carried herself with class and dignity.
During World War II, her pin-up photos were cherished by American servicemen, yet she always drew a line between charm and vulgarity.
Speaking about her image, she once said, “Sex appeal is good – but not in bad taste. Then it’s ugly. I don’t think a star has any business posing in a vulgar way. I’ve seen plenty of pin-up pictures that have sex appeal, interest, and allure, but they’re not vulgar. They have a little art to them. Marilyn’s calendar was artistic.”
Russell’s career flourished throughout the 1950s. After exploring a brief stint in music, she returned to the screen with renewed success.
Her most memorable role came in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953), where she starred as Dorothy Shaw opposite Marilyn Monroe.
The film was a massive box-office hit, earning over $5 million and cementing Russell’s status as one of Hollywood’s brightest stars.
Behind the glamour, however, Russell endured profound personal challenges. In 1942, a botched abortion nearly cost her life and left her unable to bear children. The experience deeply shaped her beliefs, and she later described herself as “vigorously pro-life.”
She went on to marry three times and adopt three children, founding Waif in 1955—the first international adoption program of its kind, which helped thousands of children find homes around the world.
Later in life, Russell settled in the Santa Maria Valley along California’s Central Coast, where she remained active in her community and in charitable causes. She passed away at her home in Santa Maria on February 28, 2011, from a respiratory illness.
Jane Russell’s contributions to film were honored with several accolades, including a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and her handprints immortalized in the forecourt of Grauman’s Chinese Theatre—right beside Marilyn Monroe’s.
(Photo credit: iMDB / Pinterest / Flickr / Wikimedia Commons).