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Joan Crawford Biography

Birth Name:Lucille Fay LeSueur

Birth Place:San Antonia, Texas, United States

Profession Actress, Soundtrack, Writer, Producer, Costume department, Make up department, Script department

Fast Facts

  • Had her hand and footprints immortalized in front of Grauman's Chinese Theatre in 1929
  • Ranked No․ 10 on the American Film Institute's "100 Years․․․ 100 Stars" list for Female Legends
  • Was the sister of actor Hal LeSueur
  • Started out working as a back-up dancer before being discovered by theatre producer J․J․ Shubert, who put her in a Broadway production
  • Quote: "Love is fire․ But whether it is going to warm your hearth or burn down your house, you can never tell․"
  • Quote: "If I can't be me, I don't want to be anybody․ I was born that way․"
  • Often portrayed women who endure turmoil
  • Served as inspiration for Walt Disney's character The Evil Queen in "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs․"
  • Would personally respond to her fan mail

Awards

  • 1928Photoplay Award-Best Performances of the Month (September): winner
  • 1928Photoplay Award-Best Performances of the Month (August): winner
  • 1929Photoplay Award-Best Performances of the Month (July): winner
  • 1930Photoplay Award-Best Performances of the Month (September): winner
  • 1930Photoplay Award-Best Performances of the Month (April): winner
  • 1931Photoplay Award-Best Performances of the Month (January): winner
  • 1931Photoplay Award-Best Performances of the Month (June): winner
  • 1931Photoplay Award-Best Performances of the Month (March): winner
  • 1932Photoplay Award-Best Performances of the Month (November): winner
  • 1932Photoplay Award-Best Performances of the Month (May): winner
  • 1932Photoplay Award-Best Performances of the Month (January): winner
  • 1932Photoplay Award-Best Performances of the Month (June): winner
  • 1933Photoplay Award-Best Performances of the Month (June): winner
  • 1934Photoplay Award-Best Performances of the Month (July): winner
  • 1934Photoplay Award-Best Performances of the Month (February): winner
  • 1936Photoplay Award-Best Performances of the Month (October): winner
  • 1936Gold Medal-Best Actress: nominated
  • 1938Photoplay Award-Best Performances of the Month (March): winner
  • 1939Photoplay Award-Best Performances of the Month (February): winner
  • 1939Photoplay Award-Best Performances of the Month (May): winner
  • 1939Photoplay Award-Best Performances of the Month (November): winner
  • 1940Photoplay Award-Best Performances of the Month (May): winner
  • 1940Photoplay Award-Best Performances of the Month (August): winner
  • 1941Photoplay Award-Best Performances of the Month (July): winner
  • 1941Photoplay Award-Best Performances of the Month (November): winner
  • 1945NBR Award-Best Actress: winner
  • 1945NYFCC Award-Best Actress: nominated
  • 1946Oscar-Best Actress in a Leading Role: winner
  • 1947Photoplay Award-Best Performances of the Month (August): winner
  • 1947Photoplay Award-Best Performances of the Month (January): winner
  • 1948Oscar-Best Actress in a Leading Role: nominated
  • 1949Photoplay Award-Best Performances of the Month (June): winner
  • 1950Photoplay Award-Best Performances of the Month (December): winner
  • 1950Gold Medal-Most Popular Female Star: nominated
  • 1951Photoplay Award-Best Performances of the Month (June): winner
  • 1952Gold Medal-Most Popular Female Star: nominated
  • 1953Oscar-Best Actress in a Leading Role: nominated
  • 1953Golden Globe-Best Actress - Drama: nominated
  • 1953Golden Laurel-Best Dramatic Performance, Female: winner
  • 1953Most Popular Female Star-: winner
  • 1954Golden Laurel-Top Female Musical Performance: winner
  • 1964BAFTA Film Award-Best Foreign Actress: nominated