Marlene Dietrich Biography

Fast Facts

• Ranked No․ 9 on the American Film Institute's "100 Years․․․ 100 Stars" list for Female Legends
• Credited as one of the first celebrities to help raise war bonds during WWII, as she toured from 1941 until 1945 and was subsequently awarded the U․S․ War Department's Medal of Freedom in 1947 for her efforts
• Began to take an interest in poetry, music and theater while in grade school where she studied violin, but it was not long after that she was forced to abandon her dreams of becoming a professional violinist after injuring her wrist
• After appearing in 1930's "Blue Angel", she would go on to sign a contract with Paramount Pictures who planned to market her as a rival to the already popular Greta Garbo who was being represented by rival MGM
• Known best for both her cabaret-like singing voice and androgynous, menswear style of clothing, the latter of which was extremely risque for the 1930s
• Demanded that an ounce of real gold dust be sprinkled on her wigs so that they would appear to glow during filming
• Offer a contract by the Nazi Party during WWII to return to Germany and act as a film star for the Third Reich