Shelley Winters

Born Shirley Schrift, Shelley Winters was indeed a nice Jewish girl from East St. Louis, making her origin impeccable. She was, as they say, "one of ours" from the get-go, even if she did change her name to something a bit more Hollywood-friendly.

While Winters might not have been lighting Shabbos candles every Friday night, she never exactly hid her roots. She spoke openly about her Jewish background and her experiences growing up. It's safe to say she carried her heritage with her, even if it wasn't always front and center in her public persona.

Kvell-worthiness? Absolutely. With two Academy Awards for Best Supporting Actress (for The Diary of Anne Frank and A Patch of Blue), Winters proved she was more than just a blonde bombshell – she was a serious talent. Her willingness to take on complex, often unglamorous roles, cemented her status as a formidable actress, giving us plenty of nachas to go around.