Lauren Bacall, born Betty Joan Perske on September 16, 1924, in New York City, made a sensational debut in Hollywood during the 1940s. She started her career as a model and caught the eye of director Howard Hawks' wife, which led to her casting in "To Have and Have Not" (1944) at just 19 years old. Her sultry voice and striking looks made her an instant star, and she quickly became known for her on-screen chemistry with Humphrey Bogart, whom she married in 1945. Bacall continued to shine in film noir classics like "The Big Sleep" (1946), "Dark Passage" (1947), and "Key Largo" (1948). Her performances in these films cemented her status as one of the leading ladies of the Golden Age of Hollywood.