Maria Montez

Dominican actress Maria Montez was born Maria Africa Vidal de Santo Silas on June 6, 1912, in Barahona, Dominican Republic. Her father was a Spanish consul. After modeling, she tried her luck in Hollywood, where her exotic beauty won her a contract. Her first film role was in The Invisible Woman (1940), followed by several bit parts. In 1941, she got a sizable role in Boss of Bullion City, and the next year a more substantial one in Arabian Nights (1942). These desert adventures of the 1940s kept her employed and made her a favorite with audiences. Public loved her, even if critics weren't always impressed. As the Depression and the war eased, public taste changed, and her Hollywood career faded. She moved to Europe with her second husband, actor Jean-Pierre Aumont, and appeared in German, French, and Italian productions. Her final film was a German movie, Schatten über Neapel (1951). Maria died of a heart attack on September 7, 1951, at age 39. She had appeared in 27 movies. She was 5'7" and had an average build, with brown hair and brown eyes. Her measurements were 33-24-35, with a real 32C bra size. She is remembered as The Caribbean Cyclone.