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| Kay Francis |
Kay Francis was one of the most glamorous and popular stars of the 1930s. But behind her clotheshorse reputation, Kay Francis was also one of the most money-wise actresses ever to grace the silver screen. She started out acting on stage as early as 1925 until the strength of her stage work landed her a contract in Paramount in 1929. Starting out with bit parts, Francis passed on as a seductress until her star as an actress eventually shone in such films as Trouble in Paradise (1932), One Way Passage (1932), I Found Stella Parish (1935), Confession (1937) and In Name Only (1939).
By the mid-1930s, Kay earned $5,250 per week and was voted by Variety as Hollywood's sixth most popular star. Numerous magazine articles were written about every detail of her life and in and off the studio lot. In 1935, she earned $115,000 in that year alone.
Kay Francis had a habit that was valued in Hollywood--punctuality. Whereas other stars were notorious for being late--or not showing up at all--Kay was legendary for her promptness. She insisted that being late made her physically ill. "But though she is rarely late, neither is she inclined to arrive ahead of time. She appears on the moment, not before, not after."