<a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpg.si.edu%2Fexhibition%2Fmarlene-dietrich-dressed-image" target="_blank" target="_blank">"Marlene Dietrich: Dressed for the Image,"</a> a new exhibition at Washington's National Portrait Gallery, looks at how the German actress crafted her public persona.
Marlene Dietrich in a promo photo for "Morocco" (1930) —
"Marlene Dietrich: Dressed for the Image," a new exhibition at Washington's National Portrait Gallery, looks at how the German actress crafted her public persona.
Courtesy Deutsche Kinemathek - Marlene Dietrich Collection Berlin
Dietrich was renowned for challenging gender norms through her bold fashion choices on and off-screen.
Marlene Dietrich in a promo photo for "Morocco" (1930) —
Dietrich was renowned for challenging gender norms through her bold fashion choices on and off-screen.
Courtesy Deutsche Kinemathek - Marlene Dietrich Collection Berlin
However, her antifascist political efforts remain an enduring part of her legacy.
Marlene Dietrich posing with her Jeep (1944) —
However, her antifascist political efforts remain an enduring part of her legacy.
Courtesy Deutsche Kinemathek - Marlene Dietrich Collection Berlin
Coming of age under Germany's Weimar Republic, Dietrich, who was born and raised in Berlin, valued individualism and tolerance, two values that she saw eroding quickly as Adolf Hitler rose to power.
Marlene Dietrich with parachutists (1945) —
Coming of age under Germany's Weimar Republic, Dietrich, who was born and raised in Berlin, valued individualism and tolerance, two values that she saw eroding quickly as Adolf Hitler rose to power.
Courtesy Deutsche Kinemathek - Marlene Dietrich Collection Berlin
When the Nazis asked her to star in propaganda films in 1937, she refused. Two years later, she renounced her German citizenship to become an American.
Marlene Dietrich kisses a GI as he arrives home to New York from World War II (1945) —
When the Nazis asked her to star in propaganda films in 1937, she refused. Two years later, she renounced her German citizenship to become an American.
Courtesy Irving Haberman/IH Images/Monroe Gallery of Photography, Santa Fe, NM
During World War II, she was indefatigable in her efforts to sell war bonds, recorded <a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cia.gov%2Fnews-information%2Ffeatured-story-archive%2F2008-featured-story-archive%2Fmarlene-dietrich.html" target="_blank" target="_blank">anti-Nazi German albums</a> for the Office of Strategic Services (the precursor to the modern CIA) and was a frequent performer near the front lines of Europe, raising morale among the soldiers.
A promo photo for "Seven Sinners" (1940) —
During World War II, she was indefatigable in her efforts to sell war bonds, recorded anti-Nazi German albums for the Office of Strategic Services (the precursor to the modern CIA) and was a frequent performer near the front lines of Europe, raising morale among the soldiers.
Courtesy Deutsche Kinemathek - Marlene Dietrich Collection Berlin
Today, Dietrich is seen as often counted as an icon within LGBT and feminist communities due in no small part to her own bisexuality and willingness to stand against oppressive social conventions.
Marlene Dietrich kissing Edith Piaf —
Today, Dietrich is seen as often counted as an icon within LGBT and feminist communities due in no small part to her own bisexuality and willingness to stand against oppressive social conventions.
Courtesy Deutsche Kinemathek - Marlene Dietrich Collection Berlin
In 1933, the Paris chief of police warned that, if she wore trousers in Paris, she would be arrested. She brushed off his threat, arriving in a suit, men's coat, beret and sunglasses.
Marlene Dietrich on the SS Europa in Cherbourg, France (1933) —
In 1933, the Paris chief of police warned that, if she wore trousers in Paris, she would be arrested. She brushed off his threat, arriving in a suit, men's coat, beret and sunglasses.
Courtesy Deutsche Kinemathek - Marlene Dietrich Collection Berlin
Born in 1901 and raised in Berlin, Dietrich got her start modeling and acting small parts in silent films.
Marlene Dietrich in 1918 —
Born in 1901 and raised in Berlin, Dietrich got her start modeling and acting small parts in silent films.
Courtesy Deutsche Kinemathek - Marlene Dietrich Collection Berlin
Her turn as a lead in the German film "Blue Angel" (1930), directed by Josef von Sternberg, brought her international fame.
Marlene Dietrich in a promo photo for "Blue Angel" (1929-1930) —
Her turn as a lead in the German film "Blue Angel" (1930), directed by Josef von Sternberg, brought her international fame.
Courtesy Deutsche Kinemathek - Marlene Dietrich Collection Berlin
The two collaborated on number of successful films, "Shanghai Express" and "Morocco."
Marlene Dietrich as Shanghai Lily in "Shanghai Express" (1932) —
The two collaborated on number of successful films, "Shanghai Express" and "Morocco."
Courtesy Deutsche Kinemathek - Marlene Dietrich Collection Berlin
Marlene Dietrich in 1937
Marlene Dietrich in 1937
Courtesy Michael Hadley Epstein/Scott Edward Schwimer
Marlene Dietrich in "Seven Sinners" (1940)
Marlene Dietrich in "Seven Sinners" (1940)
Courtesy Deutsche Kinemathek - Marlene Dietrich Collection Berlin
Marlene Dietrich in "Seven Sinners" (1940)
Marlene Dietrich in "Seven Sinners" (1940)
Courtesy Marlene Dietrich in "Seven Sinners" MD29John Engstead (1909 - 1983)1940Photograph (Vintage print, "strukuriert"-structured)Sheet: 34.5 × 26.9cm (13 9/16 × 10 9/16")Mat: 70 × 50cm (27 9/16 × 19 11/16")Deutsche Kinemathek - Marlene Dietrich Collection Berlin
Marlene Dietrich in "Dishonored" (1930)
Marlene Dietrich in "Dishonored" (1930)
Courtesy Deutsche Kinemathek - Marlene Dietrich Collection Berlin
Marlene Dietrich by Milton Greene (1952)
Marlene Dietrich by Milton Greene (1952)
Courtesy Joshua Greene, Archive Images
Marlene Dietrich (1948) by Irving Penn
Marlene Dietrich (1948) by Irving Penn
Courtesy National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution