Dolores Hart

Though she shared the screen with such stars as Elvis Presley, Montgomery Clift and Anna Magnani in the course of her brief acting career, Dolores Hart received more notice in Hollywood history books for her decision to abandon stardom for life as a nun in 1963. A pert, intelligent and confident performer, Hart proved equally capable at both high drama like "Wild is the Wind" (1957) and lightweight fare like "Loving You" (1957), the first of two films opposite Presley, and "Where the Boys Are" (1960). A retreat to the Benedictine Abbey of Regina Laudis in 1959 left Hart feeling a void in her life that could not be filled by acting, and in 1963, she left Hollywood to take her vows as a nun. For the next four decades, Hart led the monastic life of a Benedictine nun, returning occasionally to the spotlight to recall her religious calling, most notably for a 2012 documentary short, "God is the Bigger Elvis," which received an Oscar nomination. Though her film career was an admirable footnote in her life, Hart's dedication to her religious order was proof positive that some things held greater resonance than Hollywood stardom.