Jean Arthur (born Gladys Greene, 1900-1991) was an American actress, a Hollywood star in the 1930s and 1940s. Recognizable for her husky voice and strong comedic vein, she excelled in roles as intelligent, outspoken, and independent women, often with a touch of cynicism but a heart of gold.

A muse to Frank Capra, she starred in celebrated comedies such as *Mr. Deeds Goes to Town* (1936), *You Can't Take It with You* (1938), and *Mr. Smith Goes to Washington* (1939). She also starred in *Only Angels Have Wings* (1939) and earned an Academy Award nomination for *The More the Merrier* (1943).

After a semi-retirement, she returned for her last, memorable appearance in the Western *Shane* (1953).