Marlene Dietrich

Born in 1901 in Berlin, Marlene Dietrich was a promising young musician who gave up playing her beloved violin after discovering the magical world of theatre and cabaret. Although her parents disapproved of her career choice, Marlene was determined to become a movie star. She was spotted by the filmmaker Josef von Sternberg who cast her in The Blue Angel, Germany’s first full-length talking movie.  

This role brought her international fame and Marlene moved to Hollywood to make more films, always cast as the beautiful and mysterious femme fatale. However, Marlene was as much famous for wearing men’s clothes and challenging society’s notions of femininity as she was for her leading roles. Her signature look was trousers and a top hat, which was outrageous at the time.  

Although her sexuality was kept out of public discussion, she was openly bisexual and had relationships with both men and women. Marlene was unapologetic about her sexuality and her boldness inspired queer people everywhere.

As well as being a glamorous actress and a queer icon, Marlene also became a political refugee after she spoke out against the Nazis during WWII. She refused to return to Germany at Hitler’s request and openly condemned Nazism, working with the United Services Organisation to help in hospitals, make radio broadcasts and perform for allied troops in the U.S, Europe and North Africa. As a result, her films were banned in her homeland for a time, and Marlene became an American citizen in 1939.  

Marlene’s later career saw her continually reinvent herself. She morphed from actress to singer to cabaret performer and remained in the public eye until the mid 1970s. Her impressive career spanned five decades but her glamourous image and her legacy as a powerful queer woman who challenged the status quo have survived for much longer. Marlene died in 1992 in Paris. Her signature style continues to inspire performers today, with drag queens such as Sasha Velour paying homage to her on RuPaul’s Drag Race.