I was looking for a change of pace. I've always been enamored with Donna Reed from It's A Wonderful Life. I found an old TV series starring her (Donna Reed Show). The shows themselves are hit and miss. Some good, some childish.

But I just love Donna. I wonder if I would have liked her as a person. No idea what she was really like as a person. But she's just beautiful to me. And I like the way she acts when in character, whether happy, sad, angry.

Audrey Hepburn has always been somewhat of a gold standard for me in terms of superficial beauty, elegance and grace. (again, no idea what she was really like as a person, just my image of her). Donna really comes close.

Don't hold me too it but I think she was an Iowa girl.

All indications are Reed was "a real Iowa girl. A bedrock to decency typical to people in the Midwest. She was a staunch Republican although became an activist against the war in Nam in fears her son would be drafted. Interesting fact, While filming It’s a Wonderful Life, Reed made a bet with a fellow cast member—an esteemed member of old Hollywood acting royalty—which she later called “the easiest $50 I ever made.” Lionel Barrymore, who played the villainous Mr. Potter, was convinced that Reed couldn’t milk a cow. Reed worked her Iowa farm girl roots and milked it good. She also gave good face

Probably the only reason I've watched it's a wonderful life as often as I have. She is exemplar of everything most women today (at least those my age) aren't. Too bad there aren't more like her in today's culture.

Check her out in They Were Expendable and Ransom! with Glenn Ford.

Donna Reed in It's a Wonderful Life is the perfect woman.

How about From Here to Eternity, I believe she won an Academy Award for her role.

The article has several photos I can't paste:

https://www.desmoinesregister....emy-award/924715001/

From the archives: Iowa values carried Donna Reed to Hollywood stardom and an Oscar

Des Moines Register
Published 7:37 p.m. CT Dec. 5, 2017 |
Updated 10:48 a.m. CT March 19, 2020

Donna Reed was a fresh-faced farm girl who was wholesome in countless movie roles until her performance as a prostitute brought her an Oscar.

Donna Belle Mullenger was born on a farm southeast of Denison, the oldest of five children of William Mullenger and his wife, Hazel.

Their daughter belonged to 4-H, milked cows, fed chickens and won a State Fair blue ribbon for her biscuits. She did well in school plays and was homecoming queen. She saw a movie for the first time when she was in high school. She attended Los Angeles City College, won a beauty contest and was signed by MGM, which changed her name twice.

She started out in movies in 1941 as Donna Adams, appearing in "The Getaway" and "Babes on Broadway."

The 5-foot-3 actress was in countless movies in the 1940s, although the one she is best remembered for is the 1946 Christmas classic "It's a Wonderful Life," opposite James Stewart.

Going against type, she snagged the Academy Award for best supporting actress for her 1953 performance as Alma in the World War II drama "From Here to Eternity."

The award did not lead to better roles, and Reed turned to TV with "The Donna Reed Show," a popular sitcom that ran from 1958 to 1966. She played Donna Stone, the wife of a pediatrician, and became a symbol of the perfect American wife and mother.

In real life, the thrice-wed actress raised four children.

Late in her career, Reed took over the role of Miss Ellie on TV's "Dallas," then sued the producers when they dropped her. Reed settled for $1 million.

She died of pancreatic cancer in 1986.

The Donna Reed Festival for the Performing Arts is held each June in Denison.

You might like her in a movie with Rock Hudson called Gun Fury.