Marlene Dietrich

With her cat-shaped eyes, high cheekbones, silky skin and halo of blonde curls, Marlene Dietrich was perhaps one of the most beautiful women ever to grace the Silver Screen. Like her contemporary Greta Garbo, Dietrich captured the imagination of fans both male and female by being trafficking in contradictions. At once alluring and sexy, she also projected a curious androgyny. In performance she could be remote and stiff or deeply emotional, yet always managing to maintain a level of irony that distanced her from the role and ultimately the film. As a performance style, it was unique and one