Lana Turner, born Julia Jean Turner on February 8, 1921, rose from modest beginnings to become one of Hollywood's most iconic actresses.In the mid-1930s, she was a student at Hollywood High School when she was discovered by William R.Wilkerson, publisher of The Hollywood Reporter.This chance encounter led to a screen test and her signing by director Mervyn LeRoy, who suggested she adopt the stage name Lana Turner.

She made her debut in the 1937 film 'They Won’t Forget,' where her appearance in a fitted sweater earned her the nickname 'The Sweater Girl,' a label she disliked because it emphasized her physical appearance over her talent.Originally contracted by Warner Bros.for $50 a week, Turner followed LeRoy to MGM in 1938, where her career accelerated.

Her transformation from brunette to blonde for the 1939 film 'Idiot’s Delight' became her signature look, earning her media attention as the 'Nightclub Queen.

' By the end of the 1930s, Turner had progressed from a modest contract player to a top-billed actress, setting the stage for her fame as a leading femme fatale in the 1940s.