Born into a well-to-do family in Kansas City Missouri in 1911, the girl’s parents separated when she was young. Suffering from meningitis early on and later becoming seriously ill with scarlet fever at age 15, Jean never really felt well again. Her mother tried to keep the father away from her, taking her daughter to Hollywood to pursue her own personal acting ambitions. However once there, she discovered that she was considered too old to be taken seriously. Now, all of her ambitions were poured into her child, living vicariously through her. Jean reluctantly went along, not really wanting to become an actress. Feeling oppressed by her mother, at age 16 she ran away to marry a wealthy 23-year-old heir. They lived the high life for a time, but the brief marriage proved disastrous as their lives were purposeless. After her divorce, Jean was soon presented with an opportunity. She drove a friend to an acting audition and while waiting for her, she was inadvertently discovered. Recognized as the “Original Blonde Bombshell”, she is also known for her comedic timing. It was that platinum blonde hair that initially captivated fans, as many previous leading ladies were brunettes. Countless women ruined their hair with botched attempts trying to emulate her look. In 10 short years, Jean Harlow made an astounding 36 films. Tragically at age 26 she succumbed to kidney failure (now treatable), a result of her childhood illness. “I wasn’t born an actress you know. Events made me one.” ~Jean Harlow