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Ginger Rogers Biography

Birth Name:Virginia Katherine McMath

Birth Place:Independence, Missouri, United States

Profession Actress, Soundtrack

Fast Facts

Honored by the Craterian Theater in her hometown of Medford, Ore․, when the venue was posthumously renamed in her honor in 1997 after being restored to it's former glory
Ranked No․ 14 on the American Film Institute's "100 Years․․․ 100 Stars" list for Female Legends
Attended Central High School in Fort Worth, Texas, which has since been renamed to Green B․ Trimble Technical High School
Began her performance career on stage at the Majestic Theatre in Dallas
Spent part of her childhood in Fort Worth, Texas, where her mother became a theatre critic for the Fort Worth Record
Personally chosen to perform on Broadway by George and Ira Gershwin, who then introduced her to show choreographer Fred Astaire, whom she would go on to star with in more than 10 Hollywood musicals
She is best known for her musical work with dance partner Fred Astaire throughout the 1930s, but would later transition to more dramatic roles in the '40s and '50s
Despite being married five times, none of the arrangements lasted more than eight years
Her great-great-grandfather was the doctor who discovered quinine, later to be discovered as a cure for malaria
Nicknamed Ginger after one of her cousins could not pronounce Virginia as a small child

Awards

1934Photoplay Award-Best Performances of the Month (December): winner
1934Photoplay Award-Best Performances of the Month (June): winner
1935Photoplay Award-Best Performances of the Month (November): winner
1936Photoplay Award-Best Performances of the Month (January): winner
1936Photoplay Award-Best Performances of the Month (April): winner
1936Photoplay Award-Best Performances of the Month (November): winner
1937Photoplay Award-Best Performances of the Month (June): winner
1938Photoplay Award-Best Performances of the Month (July): winner
1938Photoplay Award-Best Performances of the Month (September): winner
1938Photoplay Award-Best Performances of the Month (November): winner
1939Photoplay Award-Best Performances of the Month (June): winner
1939Photoplay Award-Best Performances of the Month (September): winner
1939Photoplay Award-Best Performances of the Month (November): winner
1940NBR Award-Best Acting: winner
1940Photoplay Award-Best Performances of the Month (May): winner
1941Oscar-Best Actress in a Leading Role: winner
1941NBR Award-Best Acting: winner
1941Photoplay Award-Best Performances of the Month (March): winner
1941Photoplay Award-Best Performances of the Month (October): winner
1942NBR Award-Best Acting: winner
1942Photoplay Award-Best Performances of the Month (April): winner
1942Photoplay Award-Best Performances of the Month (September): winner
1942Photoplay Award-Best Performances of the Month (October): winner
1943Photoplay Award-Best Performances of the Month (February): winner
1944Photoplay Award-Best Performances of the Month (March): winner
1945Photoplay Award-Best Performances of the Month (October): winner
1949Photoplay Award-Best Performances of the Month (July): winner
1950Photoplay Award-Best Performances of the Month (April): winner
1952Photoplay Award-Best Performances of the Month (September): winner
1953Golden Globe-Best Actress - Comedy or Musical: nominated