Ava Gardner’s Favorite Things
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Audrey Hepburn. Elizabeth Taylor. Marilyn Monroe. And up there with the rest of the screen siren greats, stood Ava Gardner. The ultimate femme fatale, she skyrocketed to fame when, in a stroke of marketing genius, her image graced entire sides of buildings to promote the film noir classic The Killers.
Ava Gardner became a star, and fans came to see her films in droves.
Best Actress and Green-Eyed Beauty Ava Gardner
She was, unlike some classic film stars, the embodiment of the role she played. With her unique look, many wonder about Ava Gardner’s nationality. Ava Gardner’s biography begins in humble North Carolina. But while Ava may have come from farm-girl stock, don’t let that fool you. One of Ava Gardner’s favorite hobbies was shooting whiskey with the best of them.
But there was also her romances with Frank Sinatra and bandleader Artie Shaw, her memorable roles in films like The Killers and Mogambo, and her friendship with Ernest Hemingway. Looking for a travelogue of a mysterious woman? Look no further than the fascinating tales that surround the time Ava Gardner spent in Spain.
“I wish to live to 150 years old, but the day I die, I wish it to be with a cigarette in one hand and a glass of whiskey in the other.”
― Ava Gardner
Ava Gardner’s housekeeper Carmen said of her, "She would iron and watch the television. She liked to watch cartoons or any old movie while she ironed the clothes."
So, with that, we take a closer look at a few favorites of the Barefoot Contessa herself. From Ava Gardner’s favorite perfume to her favorite hobbies, this list might slay you. ;)
Ava Gardner: A Few of Her Favorite Things
Corgis
Sinatra gifted Ava a Corgi, and they became her favorite canine companions from then on.
Gershwin
Ava would call up radio DJs and chat with them into the wee hours -- and make her favorite song requests. In her early years. Gershwin's "Someone to Watch Over Me" was her most frequent request.
Fontana Sisters
The Fontana Sisters designed her iconic wardrobe for The Barefoot Contessa, and she remained an avid fan afterward. In fact, she campaigned for them to be her personal costume designer as part of her contract negotiations on future films.
Yellow Roses
Mysterious roses showed up at her apartment from handsome men, and when she bought her first home, yellow roses were one of the first things she cultivated. (Pssst… guess what other silver screen actress loved yellow roses?)
The bergamot, mandarin and lilac-infused Fracas was one of her favorite fragrances. If you are curious about other silver screen fragrance faves, check out: 7 OF HOLLYWOOD'S FAVORITE CLASSIC MOVIE PERFUMES.
Frank Sinatra
Ava Gardner and Frank Sinatra shared a tumultuous lifetime of lover's ups and downs. But even at their worst, she was passionate about his music, and never got bored of hearing him sing (who can blame her). He frequently sang to her over the phone even after they divorced.
Ava Gardner’s Sinful Snack Fave: Coconut Cake
Reportedly she ate this every year on her birthday.
A Farewell to Arms
Ava Gardner starred in two films of Ernest Hemingway’s writing, and Artie Shaw encouraged her to read him. When she met Ernest, she said A Farewell to Arms was her favorite book. And when Hemingway later died of suicide, Ava was reportedly devastated.
By the way, Ava wasn’t the only avid reader from the Golden Age of Hollywood. If you are a fan of Marilyn Monroe’s, check out: Marilyn Monroe’s Favorite Books: A Classic Reading List.
Laszlo
Ava Gardner loved Erno Laszlo’s skin products, particularly the Sea Mud Deep Cleansing Bar.
Clark Gable
Ava Gardner’s co-star in Mogambo was also one of her favorite actors.
Ava Gardner’s Favorite Hobby: Flamenco
Flamenco became one of Ava Gardner’s favorite pastimes after she learned it for The Barefoot Contessa; increasingly proficient and needing little sleep, she often danced all night -- her late night escapades becoming famous, or infamous, depending on who you ask.
more classic hollywood lifestyle inspiration:
Several notes in the spirit of doing the right thing... Ava Gardner didn't necessarily endorse any of the products listed here, but based upon my research I do believe she really loved these things. That said, if you buy from any of the links included above rather than going straight to the vendor site from Google or another search engine, I may get a portion of your purchase at no cost to you.
There are trends in just about every area of life, from fashion, to music, to interior design, to cosmetics. From Instagram influencers to famous housewives, we are inundated with inspiration. But I think we can all agree that at times, it gets overwhelming. And just because fashion editors are talking about a trend, doesn’t mean the average person is wearing it. Because let’s be honest, we don’t all have budgets to match the lifestyles of the rich and famous.
I love Hollywood.
But have you ever wondered what everyday women are actually buying? I do. And I have found a hack that I rather like.