Raquel Welch's rise to an international sex symbol and why Playboy's Hugh Hefner called her 'boring'
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Legendary actress Raquel Welch, who rose to fame as a sex symbol in the 1960s, died at age 82. She died peacefully at home after suffering from a brief illness on Thursday, February 16. Welch was born in Windy City, Chicago before her family decided to move to California. She was the oldest among her other two siblings, and a straight-A student, cheerleader, and vice president from La Jolla High School.
Before Welch made her Hollywood debut, she already had a long-ranging career from winning scores of beauty pageants, being an accomplished theatre actress, and securing the 'weather girl' gig at the local San Diego news channel KFMB. However, soon things changed for the mother-of-two when her rocky marriage with her high school sweetheart ultimately broke down. Brave Welch started her life all over again, moving to Dallas with her children Damon and Tahnee. It was a decision that landed Hollywood one of the most iconic actresses. "I hadn't counted on this unexpected turn. In fact, no one had anticipated where my strong emotional attachment to Jim would lead," she wrote in 'Beyond the Cleavage.'
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How did it all start for Raquel Welch?
Welch's landed her first acting role next to Elvis Presley in 1964s 'Roustabout'. She then starred in the hit sci-fi movie 'Fantastic Voyage' but it was only after she starred in the 1966 hit 'One Million Years BC' that she became a Hollywood sex symbol and was forever enshrined in movie-goers' minds. She starred as a cave girl Loana donning the iconic deerskin bikini which was also featured in the now iconic poster of the film. She went on to win a Golden Globe award and had a remarkable career that spanned over 50 years, starring in over 30 films and 50 television series.
(George Freston/Fox Photos/Getty Images)
“I’m often asked if I get sick of talking about that bikini but the truth is, I don’t,” she once said. “It was a major event in my life so why not talk about it?" she said, as reported by Mirror. Her career took off after she continued to star in a set of iconic movies like 'Bedazzled,' Myra Breckinridge,' 'Broadway' and the popular sitcom 'Seinfeld.' However, it was her role in 'The Three Musketeers' in 1974 for which she earned a Golden Globe. Moreover, Hollywood's sexiest actress was also nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Actress for her role in 'Right to Die.' Despite being the most iconic celebrity, Playboy mogul, Hugh Hefner did not want to work with Welch.
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Why did Hugh Hefner not want Raquel Welch on Playboy cover?
Late Hugh Hefner, Playboy's publisher, once said, “Raquel Welch, one of the last of the classic sex symbols, came from the era when you could be considered the sexiest woman in the world without taking your clothes off." Despite multiple offers, Welch's repeatedly turned down Hefner, until she eventually posed for Playboy in 1979, wearing a high-cut red swimsuit. The legendary actress received full payment for her work even without stripping or going nude.
She recalled the photo shoot and said, "I got called into the front office to speak with Hugh in his bathrobe. I went over to the mansion and I brought my lawyer with me and I sat there in front of him and I said, 'What's the problem Hugh?' and he said, 'Well there's no tits and there's no ass."' "I said, 'Isn't that the deal we made?' He said 'Yes, but it's boring,'" reported Glasgow Times. Yet, Welch refused to strip naked for the camera or throughout her five decades-long careers citing it is the way she has been brought up. However, Hefner later added in his defense, "she declined to do complete nudity, and I yielded gracefully. The pictures prove her point.”