The Smartest "Dumb Blonde" in Hollywood, Jayne Mansfield

Right Answers Mostly

Claire Donald & Tess Bellomo

History, Tv & Film, Society & Culture

4.3 • 634 Ratings

🗓️ 14 July 2025

⏱️ 66 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Jayne Mansfield was one of the most iconic blonde bombshells of the 1950s and '60s, known for her curves, pink convertibles, and publicity stunts. But beneath the platinum hair and plunging necklines was a sharp mind, a savvy media manipulator, and a woman navigating the pressures of fame, motherhood, and misogyny in postwar America. In this episode, we explore Jayne’s life not just as a Hollywood starlet, but as a feminist figure ahead of her time, a woman who used her sexuality as currency, challenged the limits of respectability, and refused to be boxed in. From her insanely genius music skills, to attending multiple colleges, to fighting for custody, from tabloid queens to tragic endings, we ask: what do we miss when we write women like Jayne off as just “dumb blondes”? Created and hosted by Claire Donald and Tess Bellomo Sources: Wikipedia , Woman's World, People, and "My Mom, Jayne" my Mariska Hargitay For more on RAM go here To join our premium channel for 3 bonus eps, go here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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