By Frank Worth

Street scene of pre-war Westwood with a young Rita Hayworth in a formal suit, circa 1943.

Rita Hayworth (born Margarita Carmen Dolores Cansino, 1918-1987), was an American actress of Spanish and Anglo-Irish descent who reached fame during the 1940s as the era's leading sex symbol. Although it was not popular for someone to be Hispanic back in the 40's, Rita Hayworth is now widely regarded to be the first Hispanic-American 'sex goddess' in Hollywood films.

Originally a brunette she dyed her hair for her role in Blood and Sand in 1941 and her auburn hair became her best remembered feature. Her stardom was acknowledged when she made the cover of Time Magazine as Fred Astaire's new dancing partner in You'll Never Get Rich (1941).

During World War II she ranked with Betty Grable, Dorothy Lamour, Hedy Lamarr, and Lana Turner as the pinup girls most popular with servicemen.

Rita Hayworth's well-known films include the musicals that made her famous: You'll Never Get Rich (1941) and You Were Never Lovelier (1942) (both with Fred Astaire, who wrote in his autobiography that Rita ‘danced with trained perfection and individuality’), My Gal Sal (1942) with Victor Mature, and her best known musical, Cover Girl (1944) with Gene Kelly. She made over 70 films.

Rita Hayworth was married five times:
1) Edward C. Judson (1937–1943)
2) Actor-director Orson Welles (1943–1948, one daughter Rebecca Welles)
3) Prince Ali Khan (1949–1953, one daughter Princess Yasmin Aga Khan)
4) Actor-singer Dick Haymes (1953–1955)
5) Film director James Hill (1958–1961)

In1977, Rita Hayworth was the recipient of the National Screen Heritage Award.