Sexy blonde bombshell Veronica Lake was born Constance Frances Marie Ockelman on November 14, 1922. Expelled from a boarding school, Lake had a troubling childhood. Her mother contended that Veronica dealt with schizophrenia, but no formal diagnosis has been reported.

1941′s I Wanted Wings was her breakthrough role. The film was a box office hit. Later that year she starred in Hold Back the Dawn. Her more popular movies were Sullivan’s Travels, This Gun for Hire, and I Married a Witch.

Lake was considered one of the biggest box office draws in Hollywood during the early 1940s. Years later, Lake would quip, “I never did cheesecake; I just used my hair.” She became known for onscreen pairings with actor Alan Ladd. At first, the couple was teamed together merely out of physical necessity: Lake stood just 4 feet 11½ inches and Ladd was just 5 feet 5 inches tall. Veronica was the only actress then on the Paramount lot short enough to pair with Ladd, and they made four films together. Read more