How celebrities looked 100 years ago: 15 photos of the most beautiful women of the last century

by Alison Forde

October 22, 2020

How celebrities looked 100 years ago: 15 photos of the most beautiful women of the last century
Advertisement

Although beauty resides in the eye of the beholder, it is also true that, always within certain limits, there is a sort of "sibjective beauty" which refers to changing canons. Standards of feminine beauty, for example, have changed a lot in recent decades, so much so that we can admire what they once were with amazement and curiosity. 100 years ago, actresses and theater dancers wore make-up and dressed according to different fashions and also the features of the their faces were strictly in line with the standards of beauty of the time. A beauty that still fascinates today, even if it dates back to the 20s or 30s of the twentieth century. This collection of photos perfectly demonstrates this.

1. Lina Cavalieri (1875 - 1944), an important Italian soprano and actress

1. Lina Cavalieri (1875 - 1944), an important Italian soprano and actress

Wikimedia

Advertisement

2. Maude Adams (1872 - 1953) was a very famous American theater actress, also celebrated by the painter Alphonse Mucha

2. Maude Adams (1872 - 1953) was a very famous American theater actress, also celebrated by the painter Alphonse Mucha

Wikimedia

3. Maude Fealy was one of the most photographed actresses of her time (1883 - 1971)

3. Maude Fealy was one of the most photographed actresses of her time (1883 - 1971)

Wikimedia

4. A wealthy indigenous woman, in a famous photo by Francisco Van Camp (circa 1875)

4. A wealthy indigenous woman, in a famous photo by Francisco Van Camp (circa 1875)

Wikimedia

5. Anna May Wong (1905 - 1961) was the first Chinese-American actress to become a Hollywood star

5. Anna May Wong (1905 - 1961) was the first Chinese-American actress to become a Hollywood star

Wikimedia

Advertisement

6. Mary Pickford (1892 - 1979) was a very famous Canadian-American actress who worked for the cinema for almost 50 years!

6. Mary Pickford (1892 - 1979) was a very famous Canadian-American actress who worked for the cinema for almost 50 years!

Wikimedia

7. Gabrielle Ray was an English actress, dancer and singer

7. Gabrielle Ray was an English actress, dancer and singer

Wikipedia

Advertisement

8. Nina Boucicault (1867 - 1950) was a well-known English actress

9. Pauline Chase (1885 - 1962) performed on stage in both the United States and the United Kingdom

9. Pauline Chase (1885 - 1962) performed on stage in both the United States and the United Kingdom

Wikipedia

Advertisement

10. Ione Bright, a Broadway stage actress (1912)

10. Ione Bright, a Broadway stage actress (1912)

Imgur

11. Carolina Otero was a famous Spanish dancer and actress

Advertisement

12. Grace La Rue (1882 - 1956) was an American actress and singer

12. Grace La Rue (1882 - 1956) was an American actress and singer

Advertisement

14. Myrna J. Darby (1908-1929)

15. Dorsi Stocker (1886 - 1968), an English actress and singer well known at the time of Edwardian musicals

15. Dorsi Stocker (1886 - 1968), an English actress and singer well known at the time of Edwardian musicals

Wikimedia

Advertisement