Russell made a big impression in the movies. There were a couple of things that you noticed about her right away. That's what caught mogul Howard Hughes attention. So he signed her up to a 7 yer contract with his movie company. The he cast her in his Billy the Kid picture The Outlaw. That was made in 1941, but was only seen in limited release 2 years later. Seems that Russell made a big impression on the movie censors too.
At 5'7" and 38D-24-36 Russell's stats were in a whole different ball park from many other actresses at the time. So movie censors didn't quite know what to do with her. It seems that which ever way she twisted and turned on screen, her cups were in danger of running over. It seemed like Hughes knew the positions to twist and turn her in too. In fact Russell's cleavage was such a big deal that Hughes, a talented amateur engineer, and to redesign he bra - in the form of a cross your heart, to contain the danger! Taking the measurements for that piece of work must've been a ticklish situation.
There was more to her career than Howard Hughes. In 1948 she stared as Calamity Jane opposite Bob Hope in The Paleface. By now Russell's reputation preceded her. By that I mean that Bob was find of introducing her as "The two and only Jane Russell!". She did plenty of other films too but perhaps her most memorable role was in Gentleman Prefer Blonds, with Marylin Munroe!
Russell was married 3 times: to pro football hall of famer Bob Waterfield, actor Roger Barrett, and real estate broker John Calvin Peoples. Though unable to have children she did adopt 2: daughter Tracey and sons Thomas and Robert John. She also started the World Adoption International Fund (WAIF). WAIF was a pioneer organization in helping American's adopt from overseas. Russell was also a prominent Republican and in later years a serious Christian. She organized Russell started the "Hollywood Christian Group" - a Bible study for film industry Christians, and was an occasional guest on the Praise The Lord show on the Trinity Broadcasting Network (not to be confused with the disgraced PLT Club of Jim & Tammy Baker. IN that case, critics said, PTL stood for Pass The Loot.).
Perhaps the best way to remember Jane is from one of her best loved roles. So here now are the two and only in Gentlemen Prefer Blonds.
