From O.J. to The Rock, athletes-turned-actors have found varying degrees of success in show biz. However, the most popular example originated not from a rough-and-tumble sport like football or baseball, but from the world of competitive swimming: Esther Williams.A national freestyle champion, Williams was discovered by MGM talent scouts, ultimately starring in a string of hugely popular musical pictures in the 1940's and 50's that made her one of the studio's shiniest stars. The highlights of each of her films were highly choreographed, intricately photographed water ballet spectaculars, each more elaborate then the last. These underwater extravaganzas became such an indelible image of the "Hollywood musical" that they have been paid homage to/parodied by everyone from Mel Brooks to Miss Piggy to Carol Burnett.
But Williams was more then just a pretty face in a bikini who could hold her breath underwater for alarming amounts of time. She was also a very talented light comedienne, perfectly suited for the vehicles tailored for her. She also had a pleasant singing voice, most notably on display in the Oscar-winning song/future standard "Baby, It's Cold Outside" from Neptune's Daughter, sung as a duet with Ricardo Montalban. Her other famous co-stars ranged from Frank Sinatra and Gene Kelly in Take Me Out to the Ballgame to Tom and Jerry in Dangerous When Wet.
It wasn't all fun in the pool though; Williams suffered for her art. While filming Million Dollar Mermaid (my personal favorite of hers), she broke her neck during a high dive. Ruptured eardrums and near-drowning were also common to her while filming. These challenges to her health and safety led to her retirement in the early 1960's, and she rarely returned save for special occasions like That's Entertainment! III.
But we will always remember her for her grace and beauty ... and being able to hold her breath underwater for alarming amounts of time.
Links via Imdb.com and YouTube.com.
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