'Million Dollar Mermaid' star Esther Williams dies at 91

Esther Williams, a teen swimming champion who turned into a beloved star of aquatic movies in the 1940s and 50s, has passed away.
Her publicist Harlan Boll confirmed that the actress died peacefully in her sleep early on Thursday, June 6 in Beverly Hills. She was 91, reported Ace Showbiz.
Williams initially dreamed of competing for the Olympic Games in US swim team. She won at least three gold medals in the national championship and was set to represent the country in the 1940 Summer Olympics in Finland, but her dream was crushed when the Games was cancelled because of World War II.

She was later spotted by MGM's producer while doing a bathing beauty job at a World's Fair and offered a chance to try her hands at acting as the company was looking to follow their rival 20th Century Fox which tapped Olympian gold medalist Sonja Henie to star in a series of commercially-success ice-skating movies.
Williams was first introduced in an Andy Hardy movie, starring as Mickey Rooney's love interest, and her debut got positive response.
Seeing her potentials, MGM promoted her as a leading star in "Bathing Suit" which turned into a smash hit. The company then built a USD 250,000 swimming pool for her.

It was stocked with special effect equipment to create extravagant scenes like fireworks and coloured fountains, and a hydraulic lift that could raise her 50 feet out of the water.

Williams starred in a dozen of movies including "Jupiter's Darling" and "Million Dollar Mermaid". A mixture of romance, comedy and underwater spectacle, they were relatively well-received, but she felt the need to break out of her comfort zone.
She begged MGM for a more serious role in non-swimming film, which they rejected but later reluctantly, gave to her.
Her most successful non-aquatic movie was "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" where she played an owner of a baseball team which players included Gene Kelly and Frank Sinatra.

Williams was also appreciated for her swimming skill and influence on synchronised swimming. She was a 1966 honouree of the Florida-based International Swimming Hall of Fame.