Loretta Young, born Gretchen Michaela Young on January 6, 1913, in Salt Lake City, Utah, was an American actress who began her career as a child extra at the age of four. Her parents separated when she was three, and her mother moved the family to Hollywood, where she helped run a boarding house.

Her career took off when she changed her name from Gretchen to Loretta and began landing significant roles in silent films. She quickly rose to fame, known for her ethereal beauty and refined portrayals of virtuous women.

Her career spanned over four decades, from 1917 to 1953, during which she starred in numerous films, including "The Farmer's Daughter" (1947), for which she won an Academy Award for Best Actress, and "Come to the Stable" (1949), which earned her a second Academy Award nomination.

She also appeared in notable films such as "Born to Be Bad" (1934), "Call of the Wild" (1935), "The Crusades" (1935), "Eternally Yours" (1939), "The Stranger" (1946), "The Bishop's Wife" (1947), and "Key to the City" (1950).

Transitioning to television, Young hosted "The Loretta Young Show" from 1953 to 1961, a dramatic anthology series that earned her three Primetime Emmy Awards.

She also starred in "The New Loretta Young Show" from 1962 to 1963 and made a successful return to television in the 1980s with two NBC television movies, "Christmas Eve" (1986) and "Lady in a Corner" (1989), the latter of which won her a Golden Globe Award.

Loretta Young passed away on August 12, 2000, in Los Angeles, California, leaving behind a legacy of beauty, grace, and talent that continues to be remembered and celebrated.