Rita Hayworth (October 17, 1918 – May 14, 1987) was an American film actress and dancer who attained fame during the 1940s not only as one of the era's top stars, but also as the era's greatest sex symbol, most notably in Gilda (1946). She appeared in 61 films over 37 years and is listed as one of the American Film Institute's Greatest Stars of All Time.
Born Margarita Carmen Cansino in Brooklyn, New York City, she was the daughter of Spanish fla...
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Rita Hayworth (October 17, 1918 – May 14, 1987) was an American film actress and dancer who attained fame during the 1940s not only as one of the era's top stars, but also as the era's greatest sex symbol, most notably in Gilda (1946). She appeared in 61 films over 37 years and is listed as one of the American Film Institute's Greatest Stars of All Time.
Born Margarita Carmen Cansino in Brooklyn, New York City, she was the daughter of Spanish flamenco dancer Eduardo Cansino, Sr. and Irish-American Ziegfeld girl Volga Hayworth. Her father wanted her to become a dancer while her mother hoped she'd become an actress. Her grandfather, Antonio Cansino, was the most renowned exponent in his day of Spain's classical dances; he made the bolero famous. He also gave Hayworth her first instruction in dancing.
"From the time I was three and a half," Hayworth said, ". . . as soon as I could stand on my own feet, I was given dance lessons." Her father said initially she wasn't interested in dancing...
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