Ava Gardner was an American actress and singer who rose to fame during the Golden Age of Hollywood. She was known for her beauty and her roles in films such as The Killers, Show Boat, and The Barefoot Contessa. She was married to actor Mickey Rooney and later to Frank Sinatra. She was also a close friend of Howard Hughes. Gardner was one of the most glamorous stars of the 1940s and 1950s and was often referred to as the 'Gardner of Old Hollywood'.