Marlene Dietrich was a popular German-American movie star and singer. This internationally famed actress and singer was a frontline performer with an amazingly long career in show business. One of the highest-paid actresses of her time, she reached superstardom and was named the ninth greatest female star of classic Hollywood cinema by the American Film Institute in its AFI's 100 Years...100 Stars ranking. Starting her career on stage and in silent films, she reached the pinnacle of success by delivering stunning performances in films such as The Blue Angel, Shanghai Express, and Desire. A symbol of glamour and elegance, she continuously developed herself both professionally and personally. Her performances in films and enthralling cabaret dancing were seductive, magical, and ageless. Her image, epitomized by Lola-Lola in The Blue Angel, was that of an enticing cabaret singer with a top hat and silk stockings—a progressive woman who was financially independent and could choose her own men. During the Second World War, she was seen as a high-profile performer. After the war, she mostly performed as a headlining artist, doing live shows around the globe, occasionally appearing in films.