20-21st Cent. Katharine Hepburn

Katharine Houghton Hepburn was born on 12 May 1907, in Hartford, Connecticut, USA. She was the daughter of Katharine Martha Houghton (1878-1951) and Thomas Norval Hepburn (1879-1962). Her siblings were: Thomas Houghton Hepburn (1905-1921), Richard Houghton Hepburn (1911-2000), Robert Houghton Hepburn (1913-2007), Marion Houghton Hepburn (1918-1986) and Margaret Houghton Hepburn (1920-2006). Katharine Hepburn attended the Oxford School, in West Hartford, Connecticut. In 1924, she continued her education at the Bryn Mawr College. In 1928, Hepburn made her stage debut in The Czarina with the Edwin Knopf Stock Company, in Baltimore. According to Katharine Hepburn, "When I started out, I didn't have any desire to be an actress or to learn how to act. I just wanted to be famous." Katharine Hepburn married Ludlow Ogden Smith in 1928. In 1932, she starred in The Warrior's Husband, on Broadway. In 1932, Katharine Hepburn made her film debut in A Bill of Divorcement opposite John Barrymore. Directed by George Cukor. In 1933, she starred in Morning Glory and Little Women. In 1933, Katharine Hepburn won the Best Actress Academy Award for Morning Glory. Hepburn and Smith were divorced in 1934, in Mexico. She later stated; "If you want to sacrifice the admiration of many men for the criticism of one, go ahead, get married." She continued; "Love has nothing to do with what you are expecting to get - only with what you are expecting to give - which is everything." And; "Sometimes I wonder if men and women really suit each other. Perhaps they should live next door and just visit now and then." In 1934, she played in The Lake, on Broadway. In 1935, in Break of Hearts and Alice Adams. In 1936, Mary of Scotland and Sylvia Scarlett. In 1937, Stage Door. In 1938, Bringing Up Baby. In 1939, in The Philadelphia Story, on Broadway.

"The average Hollywood film star's ambition is to be admired by an American, courted by an Italian, married to an Englishman and have a French boyfriend."

Katharine Hepburn was the Maid of Honour when Vivien Leigh (1913-1967) and Laurence Oliver were married on 31 August 1940, at the San Ysidro Ranch, in Santa Barbara. In 1940, Hepburn appeared in The Philadelphia Story. In 1942, in Woman of the Year and Keeper of the Flame, both with Spencer Tracy. Hepburn and Tracy soon became lovers. In 1945, in Without Love with Spencer Tracy. In 1947, Sea of Grass with Spencer Tracy. In 1948, State of the Union with Spencer Tracy. In 1949, Adam's Rib with Spencer Tracy.

"Only the really plain people know about love - the very fascinating ones try so hard to create an impression that they soon exhaust their talents."

In 1950, Hepburn appeared in Shakespeare's Rosalind on Broadway. In 1951, as Rose Sayer in The African Queen with Humphrey Bogart. In 1952, in Pat and Mike with Spencer Tracy. In 1955, Summertime. In 1956, The Rainmaker. In 1957, The Desk Set with Spencer Tracy. In 1959, Suddenly, Last Summer with Elizabeth Taylor (1932-2011). In 1962, as Mary Tyrone in Long Day's Journey Into Night. In 1967, in Guess Who's Coming to Dinner with Spencer Tracy. In 1967, Katharine Hepburn won the Best Actress Academy Award for Guess Who's Coming to Dinner. Spencer Tracy died in 1967. In 1968, she was Eleanor of Aquitaine in The Lion in Winter, with Peter O'Toole. In 1968, Katharine Hepburn won the Best Actress Academy Award for The Lion in Winter. In 1969, she starred in The Madwoman of Chaillot. In 1969, she was also Coco Chanel (1883-1971) in the musical Coco.

"Never complain. Never explain."

In 1970, Hepburn appeared in The Trojan Women. In 1973, in A Delicate Balance. In 1975, Love Among the Ruins with Laurence Olivier. In 1976, she played in A Matter of Gravity, on Broadway. In 1981, Katharine Hepburn won the Best Actress Academy Award for On Golden Pond. In 1987, she published The Making of The African Queen: Or, How I Went to Africa With Bogart, Bacall and Huston and Almost Lost My Mind.

"Dressing up is a bore. At a certain age, you decorate yourself to attract the opposite sex, and at a certain age, I did that. But I'm past that age."

In 1991, Katharine Hepburn published her autobiography, Me: Stories of My Life. According to Katharine Hepburn; "Being a housewife and a mother is the biggest job in the world, but if it doesn't interest you, don't do it - I would have made a terrible mother." She continued; "I have many regrets, and I'm sure everyone does. The stupid things you do, you regret... if you have any sense, and if you don't regret them, maybe you're stupid." And; "Death will be a great relief. No more interviews." Katharine Hepburn died aged 96, on 29 June 2003, in Old Saybrook, Connecticut. She was buried in Cedar Hill Cemetery, Hartford, Connecticut. Katharine Hepburn has a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, at 6284 Hollywood Blvd. In 2004, Katharine Hepburn was portrayed by Cate Blanchett in The Aviator.

"My greatest strength is common sense. I'm really a standard brand - like Campbell's tomato soup or Baker's chocolate." Katharine Hepburn

18th Cent. Louis Philippe d'Orléans, Duke of Orléans (12 May 1725 - 18 November 1785)

20th Cent. Eva Perón

Maria Eva Duarte was born on 7 May 1919, in Los Toldos, Argentina. She was the daughter of Juana Ibaguren and Juan Duarte. She had four siblings: Elisa Duarte, Blanca Duarte, Juan Duarte and Erminda Duarte. Her father, Juan Duarte died on 8 January 1926, after a car accident in Chivilcoy. In 1928, Eva Duarte attended Primary School, in Los Toldos. In 1930, the family moved to Junin, where she continued in third grade at the Public School, Catalina Larralt de Estrugamon. By 1935, Eva Duarte had decided to become an actress. According to her autobiography, La Razón de Mi Vida (The Reason for My Life) by Eva Perón, "Even as a little girl I wanted to recite. It was as though I wished to say something to others, something important which I felt in my deepest heart." Eva Duarte joined the Compañía Argentina de Comedias, in Buenos Aires. She made her debut in La Señora de los Perez on 28 March 1935. Until May 1936, she played in the company. In December 1936, she joined the Company of Pablo Suero, thereafter the company of Armando Discépolo. La Nueva Colonia premiered on 5 March 1937, in the Teatro Politeama with Eva Duarte. In August 1937, Eva Duarte made her screen debut in Segundos Afuera. In 1939, Duarte appeared in Radio Mitre, before Radio Prieto, then on the Radio Argentina, El Mundo.

"Shadows cannot see themselves in the mirror of the sun."

From 1943 to 1945, she was on Radio Belgrano. In 1944, she starred in La Cabalgata del Circo. After the earthquake on 15 January 1944, in San Juan, Colonel Juan Domingo Péron (1895-1974) from the Secretariat of Labor and Social Welfare organized a national relief effort in which Eva Duarte participated. Eva Duarte became President of the Agrupación Radial Argentina on 6 May 1944. Colonel Perón became Vice President on 7 July 1944. Duarte and Colonel Perón attended the celebration of Argentina's Independence Day, on 9 July 1944, at the Colón Opera House as a couple. Eva Duarte married Juan Domingo Péron in a civil ceremony on 22 October 1945, before they were married in a religious ceremony on 10 December 1945.

"I am only a simple woman who lives to serve Perón and my people."

Eva Perón entered the Political arena when Colonel Perón became The Labor Party's Presidential candidate. In February 1946, the Election was held and her husband was elected President of Argentina. "…I was not just the spouse of the President of the Republic, I was also the wife of the leader of the Argentine people." She decided to be Evita. "I am Eva Perón, the wife of the President, whose work is simple and agreeable... and I am also Evita, the wife of the leader of a people who have deposited in him all their faith, hope and love. A few days of the year I represent Eva Perón... Most of the time, however, I am Evita..." She began working on 24 September 1946, in the Secretariat of Labor and Welfare. According to Eva Perón; "I know that, like every woman of the people, I have more strength than I appear to have." She continued; "I am only a sparrow amongst a great flock of sparrows." And; "One cannot accomplish anything without fanatacism." Early in 1947, Eva Perón presented a woman's suffrage bill to the Congress. She said; "I demanded more rights for women because I know what women had to put up with." In a speech on 17 January 1947, she said; "I'm fighting for women's right to vote and I won't cease in my struggle until that right becomes a reality." In June 1947, she went on her Rainbow Tour, visiting Spain, Italy, England, Switzerland, Portugal, France, Monaco, Brasil and Uruguay. In Spain, she received the Great Cross of Isabel the Catholic. In Italy, Pope Pius XII gave her a Gold Rosary. Argentine women were granted the right to vote on 27 September 1947. She said; "The nation's government has just handed me the bill that grants us our civil rights. I am receiving it before you, certain that I am accepting this on behalf of all Argentinean women, and I can feel my hands tremble with joy as they grasp the laurel proclaiming victory." The Maria Eva Duarte de Perón Foundation was founded on 19 June 1948. Eva Perón read the Declaration of the Rights of Senior Citizens on 28 August 1948, in the Ministry of Labor. The Partido Peronista Feminino (PPF) was formed on 26 July 1949.

"I am my own woman."

Her foundation became known as the Eva Perón Foundation from 25 September 1950. Juan Perón was asked to run again for President on 2 August 1951, with Eva Perón as Vice President. Faced with her illness, Evita announced on 31 August 1951, her renunciation. In November 1951, she voted from the Polyclinic, in Avellaneda when Perón won the elections. Evita accompanied President Juan Perón at his second inauguration. According to Eva Péron; "To convince oneself that one has the right to live decently takes time." She continued; "My biggest fear in life is to be forgotten." And; "Time is my greatest enemy." Eva Péron died at 8:25 P.M. on 26 July 1952, in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Her funeral was held on 11 August 1952. She was interred in Recoleta Cemetary, Buenos Aires, Argentina.

"I will return and I will be a million." Eva Perón

Excerpts and Source: The Reason for My Life by Eva Perón.

18th Cent. Olympe de Gouges (7 May 1748 - 3 November 1793)
18-19th Cent. Frederica Charlotte of Prussia, Duchess of York and Albany (7 May 1767 - 6 August 1820)