From sultry leading roles to high-profile romances, this blonde star lived the glamorous life many dreamed of. But when Hollywood’s golden era faded, she walked away. Now, she’s left social media users in awe of how “fantastic” she looks at 93.

This actress was a blonde bombshell who steamed up the silver screen in the 1950s, captivating audiences with her sultry looks, rebellious attitude, and undeniable talent.

Her journey to stardom began in the Midwest, far from the glitz of Hollywood. Born in South Dakota, she spent her early years

dreaming of a life

far removed from her small-town upbringing.

That dream began to take shape when she moved to California as a teenager and was scouted by Howard Hughes. Her striking looks and natural charisma quickly turned heads, and by the late 1940s, she found herself on the beauty pageant circuit.

In 1949, she was

crowned Miss Eight Ball

by the Los Angeles Press Club, succeeding the previous year’s winner, Marilyn Monroe. That victory set the actress from a small town on a trajectory that led straight to Hollywood.

She quickly realized that her curvaceous figure and sultry appeal set her apart from other aspiring actresses. “I didn’t look like a normal woman — I was filling out in all the right places,” she

admitted

. “I realized that I was probably meant to be a movie star.”

And a star she became, appearing in a

string of films

that cemented her status as a sex symbol. Titles like “Teacher’s Pet,” “High School Confidential!” and “The Private Lives of Adam and Eve” showcased her talent and undeniable on-screen magnetism.

Unlike many of her peers, she embraced the “bad girl” roles that studios offered. “Those roles had a lot of pizzazz,” she

said

. “The married, Goody Two-Shoes girls didn’t go very far.”

The blonde star’s beauty and confidence made her a favorite among Hollywood’s elite, and she quickly gained a reputation for her high-profile relationships.

Over the years, she was linked to some of the biggest names in entertainment, including Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, and Johnny Carson.

However, when reflecting on her

favorite leading man

, it wasn’t one of her many famous lovers — it was her “Teacher’s Pet” co-star Clark Gable.

“He was the king of all kings!” she

gushed

. “I shared his arms with Carole Lombard, Vivien Leigh, and Jean Harlow — along with his lips and little mustache. That lives in my mind all the time.”

But despite the whirlwind of fame, she was never one to conform to expectations. She exuded an independence that was rare for women in Hollywood at the time, unapologetically owning her sexuality.

“[…] I like being sexy. […] I think I was born with it. I certainly opened a lot of doors during a postwar time when things were very conservative,” the actress

reflected

. “I didn’t know what the women’s movement was, but I was there living it.”

Despite the glitz and romance, her personal life took a significant turn when she

became a mother.

Her second husband, bandleader Ray Anthony, fathered her only child, Perry, in 1956. Becoming a mother reshaped her priorities and, ultimately, her career.

As Hollywood evolved and the era of the blonde bombshell began to wane, she made a bold decision — she left. “The days of the blondes started coming to an end after Marilyn died and then Jayne [Mansfield] died five years later. I was the only one left,” she

recalled

.

“I had a son growing up, and there were a lot of drugs [in Hollywood]. I didn’t want Perry to grow up like that,” the actress

added

, noting that the 1960s were a tumultuous time in Hollywood. Drugs were rampant, and the industry was shifting.

“People were doing a lot of LSD and walking around naked on Sunset Boulevard,” she

said

. “I didn’t want my son to be around all that.” So, she moved to Newport Beach, California, trading the chaos of Hollywood for the tranquility of the ocean.

“I love the ocean and the fresh air. Perry and I came down and got interested in boats. It worked out just fine,” she

said

. Though she stepped away from the silver screen, she didn’t disappear.

She continued to make selective appearances and even pursued writing. In 1987, she penned “Playing the Field,” a

memoir

that detailed her adventures in Hollywood. But even after sharing her story, she wasn’t done yet.

Decades later, in her late 80s, she embarked on a new literary project. “A lot has happened between 1987 and 2020,” she

explained

. “So now I’m writing about what it’s like getting older and appreciating life a little more, as well as getting smarter as you get older.”

The book also allowed her to include stories that had been left out of her first memoir. “My book publisher was very conservative, and a lot of stories were taken out. So I’m putting a lot of those stories back in,” she

shared

.

Romantically, the famous blonde actress finally found stability after years of short-lived marriages and whirlwind affairs. Though she had been married five times, it was her final marriage that endured.

In 1979, she wed dentist-actor Thomas Dixon, and the two have been together ever since. “None of my marriages lasted long, except the one I’m in now,” she

admitted

.

In February 2023, she

shared

a heartfelt message on Facebook, “Thomas, my hubby of almost 50 years. How did he put up with me? Sometimes I wasn’t the perfect wife.”

This actress is none other than Mamie Van Doren, who, now 93, continues to live life on her own terms. “I love life,” she

said

. “I got away from all the bad stuff that was going on. This was around the ’60s when I left. […] I just thought it was time to leave Hollywood. It just wasn’t agreeing with me.”

She has no regrets about stepping away from the industry,

adding

, “I made over 40 movies all over the world. I didn’t just travel in the United States— I worked in South America, Brazil, Spain, London, and Rome — even in Yugoslavia during the communist reign. I’ve got a lot to be thankful for.”

In addition to being grateful for her incredible career, Van Doren has also received praise for her timeless beauty. “Beautiful as always,” one social media user

commented

on one of the actress’s Facebook posts.

“My junior high school dream girlfriend,” another

added

. “Wow, she looks fantastic!” another social media user

shared

while a fourth

typed

, “Mamie Van Doren is still alive?!?”

“Mamie Van Doren, can you believe she’s 93 years old in these pics??? She looks like she’s in her 50s!” another person

remarked

.

After a career filled with fame, love, and reinvention,

Mamie Van Doren

has lived the kind of life that Hollywood movies are made of. “It surprises me that I’ve lived this long,” she

said

.

“I’m grateful for every morning I wake up,” the blonde star

added

. Her legacy is proof that reinvention, resilience, and knowing when to walk away can lead to a long and fulfilling life.