Lauren Bacall’s Iconic Looks That Changed Hollywood

Lauren Bacall’s journey from the Bronx to Hollywood was nothing short of legendary. Born Betty Joan Perske in 1924, she was raised by Jewish immigrant parents—a secretary mother and a salesman father.

By 1930, her parents divorced when she was just six years old. From then on, Lauren rarely saw her father, and her bond with her mother only grew stronger.

In 1933, after the divorce, her mother resumed her maiden name, Bacal—a name that Lauren, the rising actress, would later adapt with an extra “L” to avoid sounding like “crackle” on stage.

As a teenager in NYC during the 1940s, the aspiring actress studied at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, appeared in off-broadway productions, and worked as an usherette at the St. James Theater, soaking up every bit of industry exposure.

In 1942, Bacal supported her classes through modeling, eventually being crowned Miss Greenwich Village. Her striking look landed her on the cover of youthfull habits in 1943, catching the eye of a Hollywood insider.

At just 18 years old, she was scouted by the wife of producer Howard Hawks, leading to a screen test in Los Angeles. Hawks became her mentor, advised her to deepen her voice, and that deep, sultry draw soon became her signature.

In 1944, Hawks offered her a seven year contract, casting her as the lead in To Have and Have Not. The film was a success, and Warner Brothers quickly began marketing her as a formidable new movie star.

That same year, she starred opposite Humphrey Bogart, who was 45. Their on-screen chemistry sparked a real-life love affair, making them one of the most remembered couples in Hollywood history, and cementing her place among the greatest icons in the film world.