Debbie Reynolds, who has died aged 84, was considered by many to be Hollywood royalty.
She was a dynamic star, of at least triple-threat status (dancer, singer and actress), whose career spanned half a century.
Look back at some of her most memorable Golden age roles on the silver screen.
Singin’ in the Rain (1952)
Undoubtedly her breakthrough performance, Reynolds played the feisty yet loveable Kathy Selden alongside Gene Kelly and Donald O’Connor.
Selden, a chorus girl longing to make it as a “serious actress”, is hired to talk and sing for silent film star Don Lockwood’s (Kelly) leading lady Lina Lamont (Jean Hagen).
The plan however does not proceed smoothly due to Don and Kathy’s budding romance which drives Lina to jealous extremes.
Reynolds was only 19 years old when she was cast and was not a dancer, prompting Kelly to apparently insult her lack of experience.
The Good Morning routine, which took 15 hours to shoot, apparently left Reynolds’ feet bleeding.
Years later, Reynolds was quoted saying, “Singin’ in the Rain and childbirth were the two hardest things I ever had to do in my life”.
Tammy and the Bachelor (1957)
In a Cinderella story of sorts, Reynolds played the innocent and slightly backwards Tambrey “Tammy” Tyree who rescues handsome pilot Peter Brent (Leslie Nielsen).
After her grandfather is arrested, and she has no one else to stay with, she goes to live with Peter and they fall in love.
The film’s title song Tammy, sung by Reynolds and released after the movie came out, was an instant hit — more so than the movie which opened to lukewarm reviews.
Universal immediately pulled the movie for a few weeks while the song built momentum, and later re-released the film to great success.
