More Than Meets the Eye
Jayne Mansfield made a huge impact on the entertainment industry during her years of fame in the ’50s and '60s. The American actress, entertainer, and singer dreamt of becoming a star since she was a young girl.
She was originally born as Vera Jayne Palmer in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania on April 19th, 1933. Her father was an attorney turned musician, which inspired Jayne to take an interest in music. She began playing the violin when she was just seven years old and started taking ballroom dance lessons at age twelve.
Not Just a Blonde Bombshell
Jayne Mansfield may have been dubbed as the stereotypical “dumb blonde” during the ’50s and ’60s, so this fact may come as a surprise to people. Mansfield displayed much more than just impeccable beauty - Jayne Mansfield embodied beauty, talent, and intellect.
This beautiful actress possessed an IQ score of 163, which is the same as Albert Einstein’s. She also spoke five languages fluently: English, French, Spanish, German, and Italian.
A Memorable Vacation
When Jayne turned 13 years old, she embarked on a trip to Hollywood with her former schoolteacher mother which would eventually be known to shape her career as an actress. The mother-daughter pair attended the Hollywood Brown Derby together. Jayne spotted one of her favorite national radio stars at the derby and asked for his autograph.
That’s when she realized she wanted to be just like him: Jayne wanted to be so famous that one day, people would be approaching her for her autograph.
Jayne Meets Paul
When Jayne was only 16 years old in 1949, Jayne met her husband-to-be Paul Mansfield at a Christmas party. Both Jayne and Paul were popular, good looking students at Dallas’s Highland Park High School. Their love quickly blossomed and they got married in May of 1950 when Jayne was 17 years old and Paul was 20. Just six months after their wedding, Jayne gave birth to her first child: Jayne Marie Mansfield.
Shortly after Jayne Marie’s birth, the couple began studying acting together at Southern Methodist University.
Miss California: Jayne Mansfield
In 1951, Mansfield left her daughter and husband temporarily to study a summer semester at the University of California Los Angeles’ School of Theater, Film, and Television. While she was studying there, Jayne hid her marital status and entered the Miss California contest.
Unsurprisingly, she ended up winning the local round, but it wasn’t long before Paul found out - and he was not happy. He forced her to resign from the pageant and withdraw from the competition altogether.
Making Ends Meet at The University of Texas
In 1952, Jayne left UCLA and moved back to Austin to live with her husband and child. She then began studying dramatics at the University of Texas. In order to afford the expenses of being a college student and mother, Mansfield held a few part-time jobs.
She worked as an art model, sold books door-to-door, and worked as a receptionist at a dance studio. During her time at UT, she also joined a popular campus theatrical group, Curtain Club.
A New Life in Georgia
Just when Jayne was beginning to feel settled in at the University of Texas, her life took a major turn. In 1952, Paul was called to the United States Army Reserve for the Korean War.
The family was forced to uproot their lives and move to Georgia, where Paul would spend a year at Camp Gordon US Army training facility. While Jayne was in Georgia, she participated in a small local-theater production of a 1934 musical, Anything Goes.
Dallas Institute of the Performing Arts
Jayne’s stint in Georgia ended in 1953 and she eventually moved back to Dallas, Texas. That’s when Jayne became a student of the famous actor Baruch Lumet. Lumet was the father of director Sidney Lumet and the founder of Dallas’s Institute of the Performing Arts.
It was during that time that Jayne made her first-ever notable appearance in a theater production of Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman at the Knox Street Theater. Mansfield’s performance was so remarkable that she caught the attention of Paramount Pictures, who wanted to audition her.
Audition Time
In April of 1954, Jayne auditioned at both Paramount Pictures and Warner Brothers. Lumet helped train Mansfield for these auditions by coaching her on a performance sketch from Joan of Arc. The audition went incredibly well, and casting director Milton Lewis told the actress that she was wasting her obvious talents.
Mansfield received a second audition a week later, where she decided to perform the piano scene from The Seven Year Itch. When this performance didn’t go as well as she had hoped, Jayne decided that she would have better success if she dyed her brunette hair to platinum blonde.
Moving to Los Angeles
Meanwhile, around the time that Mansfield was auditioning, Paul returned back home from his reserve duty. When he realized how far his wife had come in her acting career and that motherhood did nothing to discourage her motivation, Paul decided to move his family to the city of dreams: Los Angeles, California.
The Mansfields’ moved into a tiny apartment in Van Nuys, Los Angeles along with all of Jayne’s pets that included a Great Dane, three cats, two chihuahuas, a poodle, and a rabbit.
Mansfield Goes Blonde
When Mansfield first arrived in Los Angeles, she decided to make a major change in her gorgeous appearance. Jayne became one of the early “blonde bombshells” - alongside Marilyn Monroe, Betty Grable, and Mamie Van Doren - when she had her hair bleached platinum blonde. She followed a typical stereotype defined by a combination of a curvy body, light hair, and a so-called lack of intelligence.
The “blonde bombshell” stereotype was incredibly prominent during the ’50s but has been consistently repeated from that era on. In fact, Mansfield would go on to be known as the “poor man’s Monroe”.
Real-Life Barbie
Jayne Mansfield is famously recognized for her gorgeous, hourglass figure. In fact, the public was so obsessed with her voluptuous body that the media would publish her body measurements in newspapers and magazines.
Rumor has it that Mansfield’s bust was a huge inspiration behind the development of classic 1950’s brassieres. It has also been said that Mansfield was partially responsible for making the bikini popular. Slimmer figures became more popular in the 1960s, but Mansfield’s bod was once a subject of much conversation.
Odd Jobs
Jayne moved to Cali to make her dreams as an actress and model come true, but that doesn’t mean she became a famous celebrity the day she landed in Los Angeles. In fact, in order to make ends meet and get her name out there, Jayne worked a variety of odd jobs.
One of her jobs back then was as a popcorn saleswoman at the Stanley Warner Theater. She also taught dance classes part-time, modeled for Blue Book Model Agency, and photographed for Esther Williams’ Trails Restaurant.
A Short Career With a Lasting Impact
Although Jayne Mansfield’s career spanned only a little over a decade, she left a lasting mark on society. Mansfield’s five loving children and a large number of followers help keep her name alive. She is still considered to be one of the most-loved stars of her time.
This naturally brunette “blonde bombshell” made major waves in the entertainment industry. Although her career was relatively short and she died too young, we can all agree that her memory will live on for years to come.
Paul and Jayne Mansfield Back in the Day
If you take one good look at this 1941 photograph, you will come to realize that things could have been so different for superstar model Jayne Mansfield. This was taken just one year before she eloped with 20-year-old Paul Mansfield.
Jayne and Paul were quick to fall head over heels for each other. Unfortunately, things didn’t work out for them in the long run. Their marriage couldn’t stand the chaotic whirlwind of Jayne’s Hollywood career.
Jayne Mansfield in Playboy
Jayne Mansfield was one of the very special women who helped make Playboy Magazine a huge success. Editor Hugh Hefner began publishing the magazine in the ’50s, featuring stunning playmates such as Jayne Mansfield, Marilyn Monroe, and Bettie Page.
Mansfield was discovered by Hefner in February of 1955, and she was almost instantly named Playboy Playmate of the Month. Jayne’s Playboy stint helped launch her to stardom. After she was recognized in Playboy, more and more offers began to roll in for the gorgeous actress.
An Unsuccessful Marriage
Jayne Mansfield is said to have cheated on all three of her husbands: including her first love, Paul Mansfield. Jayne filed for separation from Paul in February 1955, but their divorce happened to be a grudgingly long process.
One year later, Paul fought to gain custody of their daughter Jayne Marie. He claimed that Jayne was an unfit mother because she posed nude for Playboy. Paul and Jayne officially divorced in 1958, but Jayne held onto Paul’s last name.
New Beginnings
After being married to Paul for many years, the divorce was a completely new experience for Jayne Mansfield. She was ready to say goodbye to Paul and turn a new leaf. Her biggest priority was giving her daughter, Jayne Marie as good of a life as possible.
Paul left Hollywood and moved back to Dallas, Texas. Jayne Marie stayed with her mother in Los Angeles, trying to find some sort of normality while her mom was one of the biggest poster girls of the ’50s and ’60s.
Career Getting Started
Jayne’s first marriage might have ended earlier than she expected, but fortunately for her, at that time her career was only just beginning. In 1955, Mansfield made her first-ever film debut as a supporting role in Female Jungle. Female Jungle was a low-budget, independent drama that was completed in just ten days.
A few weeks after its release, Jayne’s manager and publicist James Bryon negotiated a seven-year contract with Warner Brothers. This landed Jayne roles in two films.
Meet Mariska
Mansfield gave birth to Mariska Hargitay in January of 1964. Mariska was the youngest of her three children with Mickey.
If the child’s name sounds familiar, that’s because Mariska decided to follow in her mother’s footsteps and grew up to become an award-winning actress in Hollywood. Mariska is best known for her role in Law and Order: Special Victims Unit, which is now the longest-running US live-action series. Mariska has starred in the show as Olivia Benson since September of 1999. Jayne would have been very proud!
It Was Traumatic for Me
Daughter Mariska Hargitay talked about losing her mother at such a young age. In a recent interview, she said: "I think I learned about crisis very young, and I learned very young that s**t happens and there are no guarantees, and we keep going. That’s been kind of my superpower, and the gift of having trauma early in life. I’ve spent the last 50 — how old am I? — 57, so 54 years sort of trying to figure out what happened and why, and what am I supposed to do with it?"
She continued by saying that the trauma left her in a "frozen place.": "I clearly was in that frozen place for a lot of my childhood — of trying to survive, actually trying to survive," she said. "My life has been a process of unpeeling the layers and trust and trusting again." Marisca miraculously survived the horrific crash that killed her mother. She carries a zig-zag scar on the side of her head to this day but has no memory of her mother’s last moments, or the crash itself.
Broadway Babe
Jayne Mansfield began working on a crime thriller film noir called The Burglar in 1955. The movie, which was Paul Wendkos’s film adaptation of David Goodis’ novel, was produced by Louis W. Kellman. Kellman went on to claim that he was responsible for truly discovering Mansfield.
While filming The Burglar, Jayne also accepted the part of Rita Marlowe in the New York Broadway production of Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter. Warner Brothers dropped Mansfield just two weeks after they heard she would be in the show.
Making the Most Out of Her Time at Warner Brothers
After Jayne Mansfield accepted the role in the Broadway show, Warner Brothers terminated their partnership. Although Jayne’s time at Warner Brothers did not last too long, she was more than happy to enjoy every second she had at the world-renowned film studios.
Jayne spent her days strutting around the Warner Brothers grounds, grabbing the attention of every man around. She also loved having picnics in the studio garden. In this photo, here she is hanging out with her adorable chihuahua at the studio.
Movie Star Jayne
The year of 1955 was extremely eventful for blonde superstar Jayne Mansfield. It was full of crazy twists and turns, but she somehow managed to make the most out of it. Jayne managed to land a number of small film roles while working with Warner Brothers.
She managed to appear in three movies produced by the studio in 1955: Illegal, Pete Kelly’s Blues, and Hell on Frisco Bay. The films didn’t do too well in the box office, but at least they helped her pay the bills.
Love at First Sight
Although losing her contract with Warner Brothers was a pretty major loss for Mansfield, she was still able to gain something else that some year - and it’s not just roles in independent films. In May 1956, Mansfield met Mickey Hargitay, the man who would eventually become her second husband.
The couple met at the Latin Quarter nightclub in NYC when Hartigay was performing as a member of the chorus line in Mae West’s show. Hargitay, who was a professional bodybuilder, won the 1955 Mr. Universe competition.
20th Century Fox and Broadway
In May of 1956, which was the same month that Mansfield fell in love with Hargitay, Jayne signed a six-year contract with 20th Century Fox. Still, under contract in the 20th Century, Jayne continued to work with Broadway performing Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter. She had her last Broadway performance in September of that year.
Jayne’s role in the Broadway show gained critical attention and public popularity. She earned a Theater World Award and a Golden Globe for it.
Jayne’s First Big Role
After Jayne’s contract with Broadway ended, she decided to take up her first-ever starring film role as Jerri Jordan in the 1956 Frank Tashlin film The Girl Can’t Help It. The movie became one of the year’s most successful films both financially and critically.
Fox then began promoting Mansfield as their poster girl, referring to her as “Marilyn Monroe king-sized.” They hoped she would finish out her six-year-long contract with them. Later that year, Mansfield also landed a leading role in NBC’s The Bachelor.
Loving the Attention
To become one of the most well-known celebrities in Hollywood, you may have to give up some of your privacy. Mansfield’s drive for fame was one of the strongest in the industry, so it’s no surprise that she tried to gain as much exposure as possible. She always kept the doors to her home - and her life - wide open for paparazzi.
By the end of 1961, Mansfield appeared in about 2,500 newspaper photographs. In addition, there were about 122,000 lines of newspaper copy written about her from September 1956 to May 1957.
1957: The Wayward Bus and British TV
The year of 1957 was another busy yet successful year for Mansfield. She landed a notable role in the drama The Wayward Bus, a film based on John Steinbeck’s 1947 novel. Mansfield’s stellar performance in the movie ultimately won her another Golden Globe.
By this point, Jayne was also appearing on a British television network where she recited lines from Shakespeare, played the piano, and performed on the violin. However, that was just the beginning of Mansfield.
Time to Tour
Jayne Mansfield spent so many hours playing Rita Marlowe in Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter that it only made sense to cast her in the 1957 Frank Tashlin adaptation of the show. Right after, Fox sent Mansfield on her most memorable tour to date: a 40 day North American tour followed by a 16 country tour of Europe.
Mansfield attended the premiere of the film in London during the tour. She also received the honor of meeting Queen Elizabeth II. Upon their meeting, Mansfield told the Queen “You are so beautiful.” Her Majesty kindly replied, “So are you.”
Relationship Goals
When Jayne Mansfield finally returned home after her 40-day tour, she had a surprise waiting for her back in Los Angeles - Hargitay proposed to her! Life couldn’t have been any better for beautiful Jayne.
Hargitay then made his film debut playing a small role alongside Mansfield in Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter. The couple then became one of the most popular couples in Hollywood. They toured across America, making headlines for their shocking performances. In one show, Hargitay spun Mansfield in wide circles around his waist.
Baby Number Two
Mansfield successfully landed her second starring role in the 1957 film Kiss Them for Me. The movie ended up being a box-office disaster, marking it one of the last attempts by 20th Century Fox to publicize the blonde bombshell as an actress.
Nonetheless, the company ended up giving her another leading role in The Sheriff of Fractured Jaw, which ended up being Mansfield’s last Hollywood experience. She rejected Columbia Pictures’ offer to play in Bell, Book, and Candle because she was pregnant with her second child!