# Hollywood's best forgotten sex symbols **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 25, 2011, 8:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hollywoods-best-forgotten-sex-symbols/572564 "2011-02-25T08:53:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![installLSC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/54ee81/32.png) [@installLSC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/installLSC)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2011, 8:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hollywoods-best-forgotten-sex-symbols/572564/1 "2011-02-25T08:53:54Z")
Partially inspired by [this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=11275713#post11275713), what actors or actresses should be considered legendary screen beauties but aren’t? Maybe it’s because their careers never went anywhere or because we associate them with less glamorous roles. I’ll start with Glynis Johns. You probably remember her best as the mom in “Mary Poppins” and you probably don’t think of her as a great beauty. [Yeah](http://ny-image2.etsy.com/il_fullxfull.93227026.jpg) [but](http://www.oldukphotos.com/graphics/Actors%20and%20Actresses/Actress,%20Glynis%20Johns.jpg) [she](http://www.starstills.com/product_images/n/420/ss2251600_-_photograph_of_glynis_johns_available_in_4_sizes_framed_or_unframed_buy_now_at_starstills__18979_zoom.jpg) [was](http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4CtfhPHreJg/S8rolVD7VcI/AAAAAAAAEn0/CbVjIhI1CHI/s1600/glynisuse.jpg). ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2011, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hollywoods-best-forgotten-sex-symbols/572564/2 "2011-02-25T12:19:24Z")
**Helen Twelvetrees** > [@](#): > > Helen Twelvetrees (December 25, 1908 - February 13, 1958) was an American stage and screen performer,[1] considered a top female star in the early days of sound films. > **[Helen Twelvetrees](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helen_Twelvetrees)** > > Helen Marie Twelvetrees (née Jurgens; December 25, 1908 – February 13, 1958) was an American actress. She starred in Hollywood films in the sound film era from 1929 to 1939. Many of her roles were of "suffering women,” which reflected her tumultuous personal life. She has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame located at 6263 Hollywood Blvd. > Helen Marie Jurgens was born in Brooklyn, where she attended Public School 119. Her family moved to Flatbush, where her younger brother was born. In the winte... Also, although she only appeared in two films (but there’s a biopic\*), **Eva Tanguay** > [@](#): > > Although she possessed only an average voice, the enthusiasm with which the robust Eva Tanguay performed her suggestive songs soon made her an audience favorite. She went on to have a long-lasting vaudeville career and eventually commanded one of the highest salaries of any performer of the day earning as much as $3,500 a week at the height of her fame around 1910. > **[Eva Tanguay](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eva_Tanguay)** > > Eva Tanguay (August 1, 1878 – January 11, 1947) was a Canadian singer and entertainer who billed herself as "the girl who made vaudeville famous". She was known as "The Queen of Vaudeville" during the height of her popularity from the early 1900s until the early 1920s. Tanguay also appeared in films, and was the first performer to achieve national mass-media celebrity, with publicists and newspapers covering her tours from coast-to-coast, out-earning the likes of contemporaries Enrico Caruso an... I used to work with a collateral descendent of hers \ ***The I Don’t Care Girl** , starring Mitzy Gaynor! ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2011, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hollywoods-best-forgotten-sex-symbols/572564/3 "2011-02-25T12:47:22Z")
Diane Franklin. Her best known films were _Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure_ and _Better Off Dead_, in which she played French exchange student Monique. She also was in the horrendous _Amityville II_, and her career pretty much didn’t go anywhere after that, though she is still working. [Pic.](http://www.wearysloth.com/Gallery/ActorsF/6039.gif) ---
**Author:** ![pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2011, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hollywoods-best-forgotten-sex-symbols/572564/4 "2011-02-25T13:24:38Z")
Some things are best forgotten. ---
**Author:** ![Savannah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b3f665/32.png) [@Savannah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Savannah)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2011, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hollywoods-best-forgotten-sex-symbols/572564/5 "2011-02-25T14:12:47Z")
[Louise Brooks!](http://www.google.com/images?q=Louise+Brooks&hl=en&prmd=ivnso&source=lnms&tbs=isch:1&ei=yrhnTd-IEYnWtQOjweGmBA&sa=X&oi=mode_link&ct=mode&cd=2&ved=0CBgQ_AUoAQ&biw=1346&bih=795) ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2011, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hollywoods-best-forgotten-sex-symbols/572564/6 "2011-02-25T14:33:57Z")
The title seems ambiguous. Are these the best of the forgotten ones, or one that we’d best forget? ---
**Author:** ![Heyoka13](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Heyoka13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heyoka13)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2011, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hollywoods-best-forgotten-sex-symbols/572564/7 "2011-02-25T14:53:55Z")
Marlo Thomas Terri Garr ---
**Author:** ![installLSC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/54ee81/32.png) [@installLSC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/installLSC)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2011, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hollywoods-best-forgotten-sex-symbols/572564/8 "2011-02-25T16:34:40Z")
> [@Sailboat](#): > > The title seems ambiguous. Are these the best of the forgotten ones, or one that we’d best forget? The best of the forgotten ones. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Torque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2011, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hollywoods-best-forgotten-sex-symbols/572564/9 "2011-02-25T17:22:21Z")
> [@Mr.Moto](#): > > Diane Franklin. Her best known films were _Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure_ and _Better Off Dead_, in which she played French exchange student Monique. > > She also was in the horrendous _Amityville II_, and her career pretty much didn’t go anywhere after that, though she is still working. > > [Pic.](http://www.wearysloth.com/Gallery/ActorsF/6039.gif) And don’t forget, she showed a lot of skin (nearly all of it, in fact) in **The Last American Virgin**. But I fell for her French accent in **Better Off Dead**. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2011, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hollywoods-best-forgotten-sex-symbols/572564/10 "2011-02-25T20:18:19Z")
> [@Max\_Torque](#): > > And don’t forget, she showed a lot of skin (nearly all of it, in fact) in **The Last American Virgin**. But I fell for her French accent in **Better Off Dead**. Right. Very beautiful young woman. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2011, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hollywoods-best-forgotten-sex-symbols/572564/11 "2011-02-25T21:00:18Z")
Anthony Hopkins is famous nowadays for his portrayals of psychopathic creeps and weary old men, but back in his juvenile-lead days he was [quite](http://lookatbook.de/portraits/hopkins_anthony.htm) [the](http://www.top39.com/2011/02/anthony-hopkins-supports-the-needy/) [cutie](http://www.onedayonelink.com/viewtopic.php?id=90200). ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2011, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hollywoods-best-forgotten-sex-symbols/572564/12 "2011-02-25T22:03:13Z")
> [@installLSC](#): > > Partially inspired by [this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=11275713#post11275713), what actors or actresses should be considered legendary screen beauties but aren’t? Maybe it’s because their careers never went anywhere or because we associate them with less glamorous roles. I’ll start with Glynis Johns. You probably remember her best as the mom in “Mary Poppins” and you probably don’t think of her as a great beauty. > [Yeah](http://ny-image2.etsy.com/il_fullxfull.93227026.jpg) [but](http://www.oldukphotos.com/graphics/Actors%20and%20Actresses/Actress,%20Glynis%20Johns.jpg) [she](http://www.starstills.com/product_images/n/420/ss2251600_-_photograph_of_glynis_johns_available_in_4_sizes_framed_or_unframed_buy_now_at_starstills__18979_zoom.jpg) [was](http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4CtfhPHreJg/S8rolVD7VcI/AAAAAAAAEn0/CbVjIhI1CHI/s1600/glynisuse.jpg). Damn! Indeed, HOT damn! ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2011, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hollywoods-best-forgotten-sex-symbols/572564/13 "2011-02-25T22:55:00Z")
[Joan Greenwood](http://www.allposters.com/-sp/Joan-Greenwood-Posters_i4925622_.htm) (and I don’t even bat on that team). She was beautiful to be sure, but probably 70% of her appeal was that steamy, smoky voice. Like caramel for the ear. Check her out in the 1952 version of The Importance of Being Earnest (as the luscious Gwendolyn). She played a cougar in Tom Jones, and she still had it then. Roddy ---
**Author:** ![gallows\_fodder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8c91f0/32.png) [@gallows\_fodder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gallows_fodder)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2011, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hollywoods-best-forgotten-sex-symbols/572564/14 "2011-02-25T23:45:41Z")
I don’t know about “sex symbol” because she seemed to play mostly good girls, but [Frances](http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_YuMU-gWrxdQ/TPW42m0nVOI/AAAAAAAABik/7k4ZStMqz6E/s1600/Frances%2BDee%2B1933%2B-%2BPhoto%2Bby%2BRobert%2BCoburn.jpg) [Dee](http://28.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ldoejhz8Z31qzks1vo1_500.jpg) [was](http://www.ukhairdressers.com/Movie%20Stars/Movie%20Hairstyles/Frances%20Dee/FrancesDee1.jpg) [incredibly](http://www.lewtonsite.com/_imagery/frances-dee-rgb500.jpg) [beautiful](http://www.francesdeemccrea.com/frances/vgalgarden3.html). Her husband [Joel](http://www.famouswhy.com/photos/joel_mccrea_and_frances_dee_photo1.jpg) [McCrea](http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1232/582058163_0565ecff50.jpg) wasn’t so bad himself. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Superhal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Superhal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superhal)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2011, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hollywoods-best-forgotten-sex-symbols/572564/15 "2011-02-25T23:46:12Z")
Farrah Fawcett gets all the press, but Kate Jackson was the hottest Angel. ---
**Author:** ![Rrose\_Selavy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bcef8e/32.png) [@Rrose\_Selavy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rrose_Selavy)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2011, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hollywoods-best-forgotten-sex-symbols/572564/16 "2011-02-26T18:34:24Z")
[Pola Negri](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pola_Negri) [Norma Shearer](http://www.google.com/images?um=1&hl=en&safe=off&q=norma+shearer&ie=UTF-8&source=univ&sa=X&ei=HkhpTde6Ksy0hAfZk4DtDg&ved=0CEUQsAQ&biw=1423&bih=724) and of course as said, Louise Brooks ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2011, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hollywoods-best-forgotten-sex-symbols/572564/17 "2011-02-27T00:58:57Z")
How about Johnnie Weismuller (as Tarzan). Of course, once he opened his mouth, he sounded like he had the IQ of a turnip. ---
**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2011, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hollywoods-best-forgotten-sex-symbols/572564/18 "2011-02-27T01:32:26Z")
Don’t forget Stella Stevens. [http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.argosybookshop.com/images/Stella-Stevens-bikini\_LRG.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.argosybookshop.com/index.php%3Fmain\_page%3Dproduct\_info%26cPath%3D70%26products\_id%3D199&usg=\_\_wLX5cx9KiAXHvaNgtMlFAh64aQ4=&h=375&w=300&sz=55&hl=en&start=49&zoom=1&tbnid=Ux8jgFmyhJistM:&tbnh=128&tbnw=102&ei=bKlpTe-PM4uasAPVhOHPBw&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dstella%2Bstevens%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DX%26biw%3D666%26bih%3D433%26tbs%3Disch:1&um=1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=235&vpy=84&dur=1235&hovh=251&hovw=201&tx=118&ty=208&oei=\_ahpTbjpMI6asAO0pfGEDw&page=6&ndsp=9&ved=1t:429,r:1,s:49](http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.argosybookshop.com/images/Stella-Stevens-bikini_LRG.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.argosybookshop.com/index.php%3Fmain_page%3Dproduct_info%26cPath%3D70%26products_id%3D199&usg=__wLX5cx9KiAXHvaNgtMlFAh64aQ4=&h=375&w=300&sz=55&hl=en&start=49&zoom=1&tbnid=Ux8jgFmyhJistM:&tbnh=128&tbnw=102&ei=bKlpTe-PM4uasAPVhOHPBw&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dstella%2Bstevens%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DX%26biw%3D666%26bih%3D433%26tbs%3Disch:1&um=1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=235&vpy=84&dur=1235&hovh=251&hovw=201&tx=118&ty=208&oei=_ahpTbjpMI6asAO0pfGEDw&page=6&ndsp=9&ved=1t:429,r:1,s:49) ---
**Author:** ![67java89](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/6/aeb1de/32.png) [@67java89](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/67java89)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2011, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hollywoods-best-forgotten-sex-symbols/572564/19 "2011-02-27T03:40:19Z")
Jaclyn Bissett. Where is she now? ---
**Author:** ![drastic\_quench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e36b37/32.png) [@drastic\_quench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drastic_quench)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2011, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hollywoods-best-forgotten-sex-symbols/572564/20 "2011-02-27T05:28:48Z")
Michael Jackson was a handsome young man once upon a time. Googling “Michael Jackson before surgery” is shocking, and I knew what I’d find. Elisabeth Shue has been consistently and undeniably hot for more than 30 years, but you don’t hear much about that or her work. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hollywoods-best-forgotten-sex-symbols/572564.md?page=2)