[upbeat music] - [Narrator] Sounds like a fairy tale.

It was 1940 and the youngest of seven children from a little town called Grab town was discovered by a Hollywood Executive when he saw her portrait hanging in the window of a New York City photography studio.

After audition, Huey B Mayer said of the teen, "She can't talk, she can't act, "she's terrific!"

And signed to MGM for background roles to dress up the scenes.

But Ava studied her craft and fought for lines, leading to her breakout role in Universal's 1946 film, "The Killers."

- I hadn't seen him for a long time, but the minute I laid eyes on him I knew.

He was always looking at me and it doesn't sound like very much but he always cared a handkerchief I had given him.

- Green with a golden hops.

- [Narrator] Ultimately, she was in 67 films and nominated for an Oscar for "Magambo."

Although Ava married Mickey Rooney and then Artie Shaw, Frank Sinatra was the love of her life, though they parted ways as well.

Instead of living in Hollywood, she moved to Spain and then London.

Like her character in the "Barefoot Contessa," she loved flamenco and dancing until dawn.

But despite the fame glamour, Ava always said she was a country girl at heart.