Jane Russell Jane Russell Ernestine Jane Geraldine Russell (June 21, 1921 – February 28, 2011) was an American film actress and one of Hollywood's leading sex symbols in the 1940s and 1950s. Russell moved from the Midwestern United States to California, where she had her first film role in 1943 in "The Outlaw". In 1947, Russell delved into music before returning to films. After starring in multiple films in the 1950s, including Gentlemen Prefer Blondes in 1953, Russell again returned to music while completing several other films in the 1960s. She starred in more than 20 films throughout her career. Russell married
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953 film) and Adamson were written especially for the film. Depsite the film's title, Monroe was paid her usual contract salary of $500 a week, while Russell, the more known and experienced actress of the two, earned $200,000. While Russell's down-to-earth, sharp wit has been noted by most critics, it was Monroe's turn as the gold-digging Lorelei Lee for which the film is often remembered. Monroe's rendition of the song "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend" and her pink dress are considered iconic, and the performance has inspired homages by Beyonce , Madonna, Geri Halliwell, Kylie Minogue, Nicole Kidman, Anna Nicole Smith,