Ava Gardner: The World's Most Beautiful Contradiction — MGM, Frank Sinatra, and Leaving Hollywood Behind

She was one of MGM's biggest stars, a celebrated actress widely regarded as one of the most beautiful women in the world. But Ava Gardner was never entirely comfortable with the image that made her famous.

From a tobacco farm in North Carolina to the heights of Hollywood stardom, Gardner's rise began almost by accident, after a photograph of her caught the attention of MGM. With The Killers, Mogambo, and The Night of the Iguana, she proved herself a formidable actress, even as her extraordinary beauty threatened to overshadow her talent. Her turbulent marriages to Mickey Rooney, Artie Shaw, and Frank Sinatra kept her in the headlines, while her struggles with alcohol and growing frustrations with the studio system complicated both her career and her personal life.

This week, we're exploring the extraordinary life of Ava Gardner — from her unlikely discovery and MGM superstardom to her eventual departure from Hollywood for a new life in Spain and, later, London.

Along the way, we'll explore her friendships with Gregory Peck and Grace Kelly, as well as her close bond with Ernest Hemingway. We'll also look at her outspoken support for civil rights, a cause she championed throughout her life.

Beyond the glamour and scandalous headlines lies the story of a talented, fiercely independent woman who spent much of her life trying to reconcile the person she was with the image the world had created for her.

New episodes of When They Were Making It drop every Tuesday. Follow now wherever you get your podcasts.

WTWMI is written, produced, and hosted by Patrick Rankin. Original artwork by Simone Beech and original music by Lionel Ziblat.