This is really long, as I pretty much just spewed out all my feelings. This is in order (though I change my mind often). It's sort of a struggle between "personality", "acting ability" and "movie roles", and attempting to get a balance between all three.

ACTORS

• Tyrone Power

I don't even know why this obsession exists. He's like this paradigm of contradictions. He's nice and kind and everyone loves him, but he can be a heartbreaking douchebag. He's gorgeous looking, but boyish and lulzy at the same time. I can't even with this man. Anyway, I think he's a versatile actor and I enjoy his movies, though no one can say he's an ahhmazing actor who did ahhmazing films, because that would be a lie. I don't know if it was his, or his suffocating studio's fault, but that's the way it turned out.

• Dana Andrews

No one understood this obsession... until Apexa arrived. He's such an underrated actor, and I think the first thing that attracted me to him was, he had that James Cagney, Joel McCrea masculine toughness about him, but such a sweet and kind personality. I have a special place in my heart for actors who stayed with their wives for life (coincidentally, like Cagney and McCrea, I have an instinct for these things...) because it was rare for actors not to cheat on their wives (LOOKIN' AT YOU TEHRONE) but they stayed loyal.

• James Cagney

Pre Code movies + gangster movies + loyal husband + cheeky smirk + rough outside but kind inside + non conservative = CLOSE TO PERFECTION. Has more films in my favourite films list than any other actor or actress.

• John Gilbert

UGH so much love for MGM 1920's players. And reading about his excitable, cheeky ways when he first broke into the film industry just makes me love him more. Plus the whole Greta thing, and his meteoric rise and eventual fall, just adds to my fascination for this man. Oh and of course there's that other little thing wherein he stars in 3 out of my 10 favourite silents.

• William Haines

I loved that he just screwed all of Hollywood over and did his own thing. Maintained his dignity and remained noble to himself, ugh so, so much respect for this man. And is it weird that I just love gay people? Plus, stars in 3 of my 10 favourite silents, and his friendship with Joan Crawford is one of the reasons I'm starting to like her more.

• Sean Connery

Three words- James Fucking Bond. This obsession you will not believe. I own all the novels. No where near as great, or rather, lulzy as the movies, but still decent. The same way Lyly inexplicably hates him, mine goes the exact other way. Plus one of my favourite things to do on tumblr is annoy Lyly with Sean Connery spam.

• Ramon Novarro

Fascinating man with a fascinating life, especially the whole controversy surrounding his death. He made great silents and extended his career into the talkies in the 30's. And like with Billy Haines, I have a special sympathy for stars who had conflicting issues with their race and sexuality etc. in old hollywood.

• Clark Gable

Well he was the King of hollywood. He was in great movies starting out in the 30's, plus all his pairings with Jean that I LOVE. And IDK, the whole ugly face and big ears and fluffy moustache and bad breath is so hilarious, instead of adding to the repulsion, it just adds to the love.

• Humphrey Bogart

Brilliant actor, also did some great 1930's precode work with some of my favourite actresses. And his early lulzy gangster phase I'm quite partial to. And his rough, not-exactly-the-best-looking face, and iconic lisp adds to the love.

• Rudolph Valentino

I'm sad that he has a hint of overrated-ness hovering around him, following his legacy and all. And like Clara Bow, he's like the silent star everyone falls to if they don't know much about silents. Though I'm glad he's getting attention because I do think he's a great actor, I mean, his heartbroken face just gets to me every time.

• Plus- The Marx Brothers

SO MUCH LOVE AND OBSESSION. I own 3 books about Groucho alone, more on the way. Duck Soup is my possibly-favourite-movie-along-with-The-Godfather, and ugh. Their whole rise from poverty and lack of education, but through all that, Groucho is still wittier and has read more books than all of us, Chico is smarter than us and Harpo can play instruments like we could only dream. Fascinating people.

ACTRESSES

• Greta Garbo

Her whole enigmatic image is probably what makes her one of the most fascinating people in Old Hollywood. Everything about her seems so beautifully surreal and untouchable, and her transcendent beauty and brilliant silents just adds to that. Admittedly, the 1920's had a distinctive style and many women from that era looked very similar, but she just looked... different. She had that beauty that's not striking, but allusive and captivating. If Elizabeth Taylor walked into the room you'd be like WOAH GURRL, but if Greta walked in, you'd probably wouldn't notice at first, but then you'd pass her by and accidentally glance upon her face and then stop -dead.

• Jean Harlow

Number one "would smash" gal from Old Hollywood. I love her movies, and because well... she died in the 1930's, so all her films are from the 30's or before, which is perfect for me. She played a myriad of different types of characters, and I love that she was such a sweet person, but could play tough broads (like in Red Dust) brilliantly.

• Loretta Young

I love, love her precodes and other work in the 30's, plus her friendship with Ty, and of course, her beauty. Though, personality's the fail category in this instance. I hate the hypocrisy in her, "Ooh I'm a sweet, evangelical Catholic... oops, I got pregnant to a married man... now I'm going to be a bitch and call my daughter a walking mortal sin..." Just. Yuck.

• Joan Blondell

My favourite precode lady, the queen of my heart. And of course her friendship and frequent pairings with James Cagney. Such a wonderfully underrated actress, with wonderfully underrated movies. The toughest gal of the 30's fo sure.

• Bebe Daniels

So much respect for this woman. I still cannot get my head around the fact that she made over 200's films, albeit, most of them forgettable movies or insignificant roles but nevertheless, still amazing. And she did precodes as well, and she was absolutely beautiful. She built up her filmography with a load of comedy shorts and became a respected figure in Hollywood.

• Norma Shearer

Again with the love for 1920's MGM players. I love that she was in silents and precodes and went on to have a successful career afterwards as well. Oh and I absolutely adore that sweet little genius, Irving Thalberg.

• Barbara Stanwyck

Brilliant actress, fierce in the precodes, and wonderfully successful with a long career afterwards. She's not your typical beauty, but she's just gawgeous.

• Carole Lombard

Beautiful personality, funny, enjoyable movies, loved Clark Gable for whatever reason, and just a wonderful, hilarious human being. If anyone didn't deserve to die early, it was Carole.

• Jean Arthur

Made some great films, and some very enjoyable fluffy romantic comedies. And that voice! That adorable voice that would be annoying on anyone else if they didn't happen to be Jean Arthur.

• Katharine Hepburn

No one can deny this woman is a tough, beautiful and absolutely amazing actress. And I love her voice, her independence, her stubbornness.. and her cheekbones. And I love Spensah. She's low on the list because, although I love her acting, I'm not a huge fan of her movies for some reason or other. I haven't found one I really, really love.