The Maiden and the Death - Jane Russell

These days I am a teetotal, mean-spirited, right-wing, narrow-minded, conservative Christian bigot, but not a racist, Jane Russell said in 2003. She died recently, 28th February, at the age of 89.

Jane Russell. Drawing. Charcoal, ink, 42x29,7cm.

After highschool Russell worked as a receptionist and model, took acting lessons and was discovered for the screen by Howard Hughes (The Outlaw, 1943), who personally designed a bra for her.  
Yes, Howard Hughes invented a bra for me. Or, he tried to. And one of the seamless ones like they have now. He was way ahead of his time. But I never wore it in The Outlaw. And he never knew. He wasn`t going to take my clothes off to check if I had...
 
Her biggest hit was Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953), with Marilyn Monroe. When Monroe was told that she was not the star of the film, she answered: Well whatever I am, I'm still the blonde.   

Somehow Jane Russell always represented the darker, deeper female side of Hollywood - together with Joan Crawford and Lauren Bacall.
In her movies she gave that self-determined woman in a world dominated by men. She was strong, dangerous, a scarred soul though but always ready for payback. God bless her!

More about Jane Russell.
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Drawing with charcoal sometimes feels like a relief. I tend to delve into details too much, encouraged by a sharpened pencil. With charcoal you have to work on the overall impression, gaining a healthy distance to the template and a new perspective as well.

From the drawing board: Jane Russell, first sketch