Hey There, Corgi Girl...!

Like most humans, we adore the work of one Miss Ava Gardner and are equally mesmerized by her looks. A startling beauty in her youth, she emerged as a fine actress over time (though she sometimes had trouble believing it herself.) In her 1940s and '50s hey-day, she was positively gilded with all the Tinseltown trappings; the gowns, jewels, makeup, etc... and she was dazzling. But unlike a lot of her peers, she didn't cling to this as the years wore on. She allowed Father Time to march acrost her face and simply lived the way she wished to, comfortably. There were few constants in her often tumultuous personal life, but one of them was her devotion to animals, particularly dogs, and most especially to Welsh corgis. So today we offer up a photo essay of Ava and her beloved pooches (chiefly Rags and, later, Cara.) 

There was scarcely a time, even from the beginning of her career, that Gardner didn't have a pet pup on hand.

One thing dogs can give us, and surely gave her, is unconditional love. She was almost never without a big smile when in the presence of one of her corgis.

Ava's canine companions could nearly always be found in her trailer while filming, providing comfort between takes (and fun photo ops in the bargain.) This was during Knights of the Round Table (1953.)

Costumes be damned, nothing was going to interfere with her doggie time.

I hope no one made a mess on the floor...!

I did say they went everywhere. On airplanes, too!

Here they are on a boat!

Between takes on The Naked Maja (1958.)

Taken during Mayerling (1968), which features one of my very favorite Ava looks, her take on Empress Elisabeth "Sisi" of Austria.

In London while filming Tam-Lin (1970.)

With the director of Tam-Lin (and her close friend) Roddy McDowall.

This one is during the filming of Earthquake (1974.) This ornate house dress is only seen fleetingly in the final cut, the scene it was designed for having been hacked out right before release.

The assistant's face behind her here... WTH?

Fun times with actor & pal Charles Gray.

In her later years, Gardner could often be found walking one of her adored friends down the street.

This was nothing new, however. She'd never been "too good" to take her pups out for a spin to do their business.

It's entirely possible, though, that in her final years, passersby had no clue that they'd just laid eyes on AVA GARDNER walking her dog.

Faithful friends right up to the end. 

This was for her unfinished autobiography, which was published posthumously. (She and the author had parted ways before it was done and he used the tapes from their meetings to form much of the book.) I love the dog's expression here, secure in its mistress' arms.

She had her issues, like many of us, but there will only ever be one Ava Gardner and when it came to her canines, she had one huge heart. I adore this portrait of her.

Today is December 30th, so the message here is late! But we do hope your holiday was a great one. And I'll add that I wish every one of my blog visitors a very happy and healthy new year! Thanks for your support.