1Beauty in Contrast
Print Collector//Getty Images This striking photo of Cooper was actually from an early 20th-century postcard that circulated throughout England. A fur stole and matching hat, velvet dress, a simple strand of pearls juxtaposed with an eclectic sash make for an outfit to remember.
2Star of the Show
Hulton Archive//Getty Images Cooper began her illustrious acting career on the stage, and she starred in the lead role in The Pursuit of Pamela in 1913. The actress was queen of accessories, donning a gold arm cuff and embroidered belt at the waist.
3Haute Bohemian
Hulton Archive//Getty Images This moody photo of Cooper was taken by Lallie Charles, an Irish photographer considered to be one of the most commercially successful female portraitists at the turn of the 20th century, along with her sister Rita. With her hair tucked into this beautifully embroidered newsboy cap, the actress looks as fashion-forward as ever.
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4Supporting Role
Sasha//Getty Images One of Cooper's final bright moments on the stage was in a 1930 run of Cynara, based on the novel An Imperfect Lover.
5A Star is Born
Library of Congress/George Grantham Bain Collection Cooper radiates turn-of-the-century chic with her silver headdress and beaded gown boasting a gauzy train. This 1913 photo reflects her newly found success after playing Muriel Pym in the play Milestones.
6Ravishing in Robin Egg's Blue
Hulton Archive//Getty Images Cooper was such a beautiful child that her mother started her in modeling at the age of six. While photography was still a relatively new thing, the rise of postcards allowed people to send each other photographic prints for a low price, and Gladys and her sister Doris were featured in many of these.
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7Understated Elegance
Print Collector//Getty Images Here, Gladys looks utterly gorgeous au naturel in a simple bun without accessories. This is just one of many photos that cement her as a true beauty to be remembered.
8Wrapped in Red
Print Collector//Getty Images Another postcard from her modeling days, here Cooper looks ultra-chic with her short hair wrapped in this oversize red bow. The actress often returned to the camera for photo shoots, even when she no longer needed the money, and she was a favorite "pinup" of British soldiers in WWI.
9Sleepy Time Chic
Hulton Deutsch//Getty Images Cooper reprised her role as Clemency Warlock in Cynara for 250 performances, with this sophisticated night gown and bell-sleeved robe from British fashion designer Edward Molyneux (who dressed royals and other 20th-century style icons and whose proteges include Christian Dior and Pierre Balmain) making for a memorable ensemble
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10Beauty and Grace
Print Collector//Getty Images Gladys Cooper was quintessentially British in the way she dressed: plenty of practicality balanced with intricate details and luxurious touches. Here, she wears her signature string of pearls with a fur stole and a wide-brimmed hat for a unique yet stylish ensemble.
11Timeless Elegance
PA Images//Getty Images Even in Cooper's final years, her hair was always perfectly set, and she was always dressed to the nines. Shown here in 1967 with actress Wendy Hiller, the pair celebrates after being appointed Dame Commanders of the Order of the British Empire.
Lauren Wicks is a freelance writer and editor based in Birmingham, Alabama. Before going on her own, Lauren worked for brands such as VERANDA, EatingWell, and Cooking Light, and she covers all things lifestyle from interior design and luxury travel to wine and wellness.
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