**Rita Hayworth** (born Margarita Carmen Cansino; 1918-1987) was an American actress and dancer, considered an icon of sensuality and glamour of the Golden Age of Hollywood. Recognized for her extraordinary beauty, her fiery red hair, and her grace in dancing, she became one of the most celebrated pin-ups of World War II.

The role that cemented her as a legend was that of the femme fatale in the film noir ***Gilda*** (1946), where her performance, with the unforgettable symbolic striptease sequence and the song "Put the Blame on Mame," elevated her to a symbol of seduction and vulnerability.

She also shone in vibrant musicals like ***Cover Girl*** (1944), where her dancing talents were fully expressed, and in complex film noirs like ***The Lady from Shanghai*** (1947), directed by her husband Orson Welles. Her typical roles ranged from charming, seductive, and often problematic women to characters with a subtle veil of melancholy. Her career saw her defined as the "Love Goddess" and an eternal film star.