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Josephine Baker was probably the closest thing the Jazz Age had to a mega-star. The Black actress/dancer was a worldwide celebrity and devoted civil rights activist who first rose to fame by dancing in a "skirt" of artificial bananas (and very little else

Ethan Trex








Sally Ride

Sally Ride—the first American woman in space—paved the way for female astronauts, and proved there is such thing as a stupid question.

Ethan Trex








Martin Scali - © 2014 - Fox Searchlight Pictures

Though he has yet to win an Oscar (despite seven nominations ... and counting), Wes Anderson is largely considered one of today’s most influential filmmakers—and a true auteur.

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Chris Jackson, Getty Images

Whether you know James McAvoy from the X-Men series or his early gigs on British TV, this year is already proving to be a major one for the actor (who turns 40 on April 21).

Hannah Wigandt