Born on a tobacco farm, Ava grew up in the rural South. At age 18, her picture in the window of her brother-in-law's New York photo studio brought her to the attention of MGM, leading her to Hollywood and to a film contract based strictly on her beauty.

She started cold in Hollywood, with zero acting experience. After her first starring role in B-grade Whistle Stop (1946), MGM loaned her to Universal for her first outstanding film, The Killers (1946). Few of her best films were made at MGM which, keeping her under contract for 17 years, used her popularity to sell many mediocre films.

Her latent was real, though, and it shone brightly when brought out by a good director, as with John Ford in Mogambo (1953) and George Cukor in Bhowani Junction (1956). in 1955, after 3 failed marriages, dissatisfaction with Hollywood life prompted Ava to move to Spain; most of her subsequent films were made abroad. Her last quality starring film role was in Night of the Iguana (1964), her later work being (as she said) strictly "for the loot".

Although her film career did not bring her great fulfillment, many fans still consider her the most beautiful actress in Hollywood history.

(source: IMDB bio)