Already have an account?
Celebrities

Facts About Mae West: The Classic Hollywood Icon Who Defined Onscreen Empowerment and Sass

The actress, singer and writer revolutionized '30s cinema with her unapologetic screen presence

Of all the popular actresses of the ’30s, Mae West may well have been the most daring. The actress, singer and writer became iconic for her delightfully sassy roles in comedies like She Done Him Wrong, I’m No Angel and Goin’ to Town, and she paved a way for women to be unapologetically bold and sexual onscreen.

Even if you don’t know Mae West’s name, you’ve likely heard her quotes (the naughty line “Is that a gun in your pocket, or are you just glad to see me?” — yep, that’s one of hers!) and enjoyed watching strong women who’ve carried on her legacy, from Madonna to Samantha from Sex and the City.

Here are some fascinating facts to know about West’s singular life and career.

Mae West was in her 40s when she became a movie star

Mae West was born Mary Jane West in Brooklyn in 1893. She began her career as a performer in vaudeville and Broadway shows, and honed her signature vampy persona on the stage. In 1932, Hollywood came calling when she was given a contract with Paramount and cast in her first film, Night After Night.

Even now, it’s rare for a woman to become a movie star in her 40s, and it was nearly unheard of during Hollywood’s Golden Age. West developed her own niche in Hollywood, playing sultry-voiced, self-assured women, and became a sex symbol at an age when many women’s careers would be winding down.

Mae West in Night After Night (1932)
Mae West in Night After Night (1932)Irving Lippman/John Kobal Foundation/Getty

She was an accomplished writer

In addition to being an actress, West also wrote plays. Her first play, which she wrote, produced, directed and starred in in 1926, was called Sex, and as you might be able to guess, it caused a major scandal at the time. West was even sentenced to 10 days in jail on obscenity charges, but instead of ruining her career, this just helped her build up her rebellious mythology.

West also cowrote the screenplays for all of her most famous films, which was a rarity in Hollywood at the time. The fact that she wrote her own dialogue definitely contributed to the staying power of her provocative words.

The actress in the '30s
Mae West in the ’30sBettmann/Getty

Mae West helped to put Cary Grant on the map

Early in his career, the eternally suave Cary Grant starred opposite West in She Done Him Wrong and I’m No Angel. Grant had already been in a number of films, but wasn’t yet a household name, and the two films with West helped him break out. 

Because West always played the part of a bawdy seductress, it wasn’t necessarily easy to find men who could compete with her formidable presence, but Grant was able to hold his own, leading West to claim that she discovered him.

Mae West and Cary Grant in I'm No Angel (1933)
Mae West and Cary Grant in I’m No Angel (1933)George Rinhart/Corbis via Getty

She had some of the most quotable lines of all time

The curvy, self-confident star delivered some of the most quotable lines of her day. West is known for popularizing the pickup line “Why don’t you come up and see me sometime?” and had other gloriously risque bon mots like the aforementioned “Is that a gun in your pocket, or are you just glad to see me?,” “It’s not the men in your life that counts, it’s the life in your men,” “When women go wrong, men go right after them,” and “When I’m good, I’m very good. But when I’m bad, I’m better” — to quote just a few.

The actress in 1933
Mae West in 1933Bettmann/Getty

 

Read on for more about classic Hollywood!

Grace Kelly: 13 Rare Photos of the Gorgeous Young Actress Turned Princess

Kim Novak Movies: A Look at 9 of the Blonde Bombshell’s Most Glamorous Roles

Vera-Ellen: A Look at the Dancing Starlet From Your Favorite Midcentury Musicals

Conversation

All comments are subject to our Community Guidelines. Woman's World does not endorse the opinions and views shared by our readers in our comment sections. Our comments section is a place where readers can engage in healthy, productive, lively, and respectful discussions. Offensive language, hate speech, personal attacks, and/or defamatory statements are not permitted. Advertising or spam is also prohibited.

Use left and right arrow keys to navigate between menu items. Use right arrow key to move into submenus. Use escape to exit the menu. Use up and down arrow keys to explore. Use left arrow key to move back to the parent list.