In 1960, Rita Hayworth began to change. Once sweet and loving, she turned volatile and depressive. It took “two decades of hell” before her family discovered the horrible truth.

From acting to dancing—singing to activism—Shirley MacLaine has done it all and then some. With a career that spans over eight decades, her struggles and triumphs pepper her unapologetic life. Even now, her wild eccentricities and controversial comments keep making headlines.

Esther Williams was the undisputed queen bee of one of the most baffling Hollywood sub-genres: the Aqua Musicals of the 40s and 50s. No one rose out of the pool depths—with a smile, no less—quite like Williams. But who was she really? Competitive athlete? Pretty pin-up? Feisty feminist? Kept woman? Williams somehow managed to be, at different times in her life, all of these things and more. Let’s dive a little deeper into these facts about Esther Williams, Hollywood’s mermaid.

It was a beautiful, terrible thing to be Zsa Zsa Gabor. One of the most stunning women of her century, Gabor wore Hollywood like a skin-tight dress, languishing in its glamour, its galas, and its dark side. Through her incredible nine marriages, she found out—and aired—some of the dirtiest laundry in Tinseltown. But that doesn’t mean she didn’t have secrets of her own…

We knew him as loveable “Uncle Miltie,” but Milton Berle was a twisted man. After his son’s memoir, Berle’s darkest secrets came out—including the boy’s most disturbing childhood memory.

Louise Brooks was the ultimate heartbreaker. Unable to stay faithful to any of her lovers, she embarked on a pleasure-seeking mission, slipping into the arms of anyone she fancied—men and women alike. With her iconic black bob and celebrity status, Louise felt invincible. Unfortunately, her wild and free-spirited ways led her to an end so tragic, it’s unforgettable.