From Russia with Love: Lyubov Orlova

Back the 1930th, when Soviet Union was just a young country, isolated from the outside world by the "iron curtain", and whose citizens had very few necessities and none of the luxuries, the STAR was born.

Well, the star in question was born back at the beginning of the century, but she became an idol and reigning queen of Soviet cinema sometime in 1930-ies.

Here's another amazing transformation of a pretty, young, theatrically inclined girl named Lubov Orlova. She was a bit player in some minor theater productions and this is how she looked before she met her husband, famous Russian movie director.

Director fell in love with our young actress, promptly divorced his wife, married Ms. Orlova and began an interesting process of making a mega star out of her.

Clearly, she was molded as a Russian Greta Garbo - Lubov Orlova became blond, lost weight, her teeth were yanked out and a new set of perfect pearly whites were installed - dental feat unheard of in Soviet Russia.

Career-wise Ms.Orlova was a sort of Jennifer Aniston- her specialty was rom-coms and her only director was her husband. She had immense screen presence and charisma and I personally remember her very well in one of my fave old Russian movies "Circus". Coincidentally, she played an American dancer defecting to Soviet Union.

She looked stunning even in her twilight years.