Mae West, a renowned American actress, born on August 17, 1893, in Brooklyn, New York, to "Battling Jack" West and Matilda Doelger, embarked on a remarkable career in the entertainment industry.
As a child star, Mae began her journey in vaudeville, eventually transitioning to writing her own plays, including the infamous "SEX", which led to her arrest. The controversy surrounding her work only added to her notoriety.
At the age of 40, Mae made her film debut in Night After Night (1932),with a memorable scene where a coat check girl exclaims, "Goodness! What lovely diamonds!", upon seeing Mae's jewelry. Mae's witty response, "Goodness had nothing to do with it", has become iconic.
The following year, Mae starred in She Done Him Wrong (1933),based on her popular play, "Diamond Lil". She went on to write and star in seven more films, including the 1940 comedy My Little Chickadee, alongside the legendary W.C. Fields.
Throughout her career, Mae continued to push boundaries, and her last film, Sextette (1977),was also adapted from a play. Mae West passed away on November 22, 1980, leaving behind a legacy as a trailblazing actress, writer, and comedian.