1950s Pinup Tells All About Sinatra, Marilyn Monroe

Kathleen Hughes shot to fame in the1950s as the blonde bombshell appearing in the sci-fi cult classic "It Came From Outer Space."

The Hollywood actress and pinup would go on to become a household name but it didn’t stop her from being in awe of Frank Sinatra and Marylin Monroe, whose paths would eventually cross. Hughes recounted her experiences in a tell-all interview with Fox News.

"I was probably the biggest Sinatra fan that ever lived. I just worshipped the ground he walked on," the  now-90-year-old actress said. Sinatra did not share her enthusiasm.

But her encounter with Sinatra was less than great.

"I was in a sketch with Sinatra,” she said. “I think I was playing a sexy nurse in a psychiatrist office… I hate to say this, but I think he didn’t like me at all. He was icy cold towards me. Just icy cold. I don’t know why. It was disappointing," Hughes said. "But I have a still of me with Sinatra and we look like a very, very happy couple."

Marylin Monroe was another name that left a lasting impression on Hughes, and not only because she lost out on a starring role in "A Ticket to Tomahawk" to the iconic star, according to IMDB.

Hughes was fortunate enough to see an unknown Monroe perform in a show alongside her cousin. The show producers wanted to drop Monroe but then decided to give her one song. Hughes said she was stunned by the performance.

"Oh my God, she was fantastic," the actress said. "She was incredible. She was just a star. I just thought if anyone from the studio saw the show, they would realize they made a terrible mistake and sign her back again."

It was not long after that Hughes lost out on a part to Monroe.

"They got me with this poor, patient man of a dance director. He tried hour after hour after hour to teach me one simple step," she recalled. "Years later I was able to pick it up, but I could not learn this step at the time. At the end of the day, as it was getting dark, he said, "Forget it! We’ll get someone else." That someone else was Marilyn."

While losing out on the part was a blow, Hughes went on to enjoy an illustrious career. It was all so unexpected for the star, who described herself as an "ugly duckling" growing up.

"When I was a little girl, my mother used to read to me all these lovely fairy stories about an ugly duckling. I just thought, "Oh, if only I could grow up to be a swan." I didn't like being an ugly duckling. I had buck teeth. I was very tall. I just felt ugly," she said. "I guess I did finally turn into a swan. It made me very, very happy because it was so unexpected."

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