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The Breakthrough Years of Cinema Stars
First major success in 1943
Elizabeth Taylor
Gained her first prominent child star role in the beloved film Lassie Come Home.
1940
1945
1946
1947
1947
1947
Jane Russell
The Outlaw marked Jane Russell's film debut and made her a major Hollywood sex symbol, launching her career and public profile.
1941
1941
1941
1941
1942
1942
Jennifer Jones
Won Best Actress Oscar for her first leading role in The Song of Bernadette.
1943
1943
1944
1944
1944
1944
Esther Williams
First gained widespread attention with a significant role in the popular film A Guy Named Joe.
1944
1944
1944
1945
1945
1945
June Allyson
Broke through in Best Foot Forward, establishing her as an MGM musical star.
1945
1945
1945
1945
1945
1945
Jean Marais
Jean Marais achieved major recognition with his leading roles in The Eternal Return and Voyage Without Hope, establishing him as a prominent French film star.
1941
1943
1944
1946
1946
1946
Jeanne Crain
Debuted in The Gang's All Here, becoming a new starlet for 20th Century Fox.
1943
1945
1946
1946
1946
1946
Robert Mitchum
Entered Hollywood with numerous credited roles, notably in Gung Ho!, his busy debut year.
1948
1949
1950
1950
1950
1951
Van Johnson
Rose to prominence as a wartime heartthrob with a key role in A Guy Named Joe.
1944
1945
1945
1946
1946
1946
Madeleine Sologne
Madeleine Sologne achieved widespread fame and became a star with her leading role as Nathalie in Jean Delannoy's film L'Éternel Retour, with a screenplay by Jean Cocteau. This critically acclaimed film established her iconic image and marked the most significant breakthrough in her career.
1940
1940
1943
1944
1946
1946
Federico Fellini
Received his first major screenwriting credit for the Italian film Campo de' Fiori.
1964
1980
1986
1987
1990
Luchino Visconti
Directed his debut feature film Ossessione, a groundbreaking work of Italian neorealism.
1964
1984
1993
Sally Ann Howes
At just 12 years old, Sally Ann Howes made her impressive film debut in Thursday's Child. This role immediately established her as a promising child actress, leading to a contract with Ealing Studios and a series of subsequent film roles.
1949
1958
Sonny Tufts
Starred in So Proudly We Hail!, a prominent debut establishing him as a new screen personality.
1947
1947

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