Rita Hayworth was born Margarita Carmen Cansino into a family of dancers. Her Spanish father and grandfather were both well-known dancers. Rita, herself, studied as a dancer in order to follow in her family's footsteps and started her career at the age of eight.

Her big break came when she danced splendidly with Fred Astaire in You’ll Never Get Rich (1941). She was now a star. This was the film that exuded the warmth and seductive vitality that was to make her famous. Her natural raw beauty was highlighted later that year in Blood and Sand (1941).

Rita Hayworth reached the pinnacle of her career with the film Gilda, which showcased her explosive sexual charisma and made her a superstar.

She commented on her role in the film Gilda this way:

"Men fell in love with Gilda, but they wake up with me." 

In person, she was shy, quiet, and unassuming – the exact opposite of her character in Gilda.

After that film, her career began to slide away from her as did her personal life with a series of failed marriages. And by 1960 she was showing signs of early onset Alzheimer’s disease.

Rita Hayworth, the glamorous actress, dancer, and sex symbol is now forever In Heaven with the Stars.