Joan Crawford, born Lucille Fay LeSueur (March 23, 1904 - May 10, 1977) in San Antonio, TX, was an American dancer, businesswoman, and actress of 86 films. Crawford often played hardworking young women who find romance and financial success. Her films that were well received by Depression-era audiences and popular with women. By the 1930s, Crawford became one of Hollywood's most prominent movie stars—rivaling fellow actresses Norma Shearer and Greta Garbo. A three-time Academy Award Best Actress nominee, Crawford took home the Oscar for the 1945 film Mildred Pierce. In this 1971 recording, Crawford discusses filmmaking, her films, and her appearance at an upcoming AFI event in Washington, DC.

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Joan Crawford, born Lucille Fay LeSueur (March 23, 1904 - May 10, 1977) in San Antonio, TX, was an American dancer, businesswoman, and actress of 86 films. Crawford often played hardworking young women who find romance and financial success. Her films that were well received by Depression-era audiences and popular with women. By the 1930s, Crawford became one of Hollywood's most prominent movie stars—rivaling fellow actresses Norma Shearer and Greta Garbo. A three-time Academy Award Best Actress nominee, Crawford took home the Oscar for the 1945 film Mildred Pierce.