The 40 Most Stunningly Beautiful Actresses Before 1960

35. Cyd Charisse

Born Tula Ellice Finklea on March 8, 1922, Cyd Charisse entered the film industry in the 1940s, quickly gaining recognition for her remarkable dancing skills. She often found herself paired with the legendary Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly in iconic dance numbers.

Charisse once shared her thoughts on working with these two dance giants:

“As one of the few who worked with both of these dance geniuses, I feel I can give an honest comparison. To me, Kelly is the more inventive choreographer. Astaire, with Hermes Pan's collaboration, creates stunning routines—not just for himself, but for his partner as well. But Kelly has the ability to craft entire numbers for others. That said, Astaire’s coordination is unmatched. His sense of rhythm is extraordinary. Kelly, however, is the stronger of the two—when he lifts you, he really lifts you! To sum it up, both were the greatest dancing personalities to ever grace the screen. But comparing them is like comparing apples and oranges. They’re both delicious.”