This exquisite collection of over 70 portraits celebrates the golden Hollywood era and the Hollywood stars that captivated the world between the 1920s and the 1960s and beyond.  

They were part of the infamous star system that large film studios like MGM had in place and their images were strictly controlled by these studios. 

Image was of the upmost importance and the portraits convey the fascination and god-like appeal of these stars.  It is perhaps because of these images that they became such celebrated stars. 

There are  many included such as Clark Gable, Marlene Dietrich, James Dean and Audrey Hepburn to name just a few. The collection is immense and fabulous.

I especially loved the portraits of Ava Gardner, Grace Kelly and James Stewart, having never seen them before.  It’s amazing to think that there are still unseen images of these icons and the beautiful vintage prints will surprise many.

It is a truly incredible collection which shows the importance of the photographer in the making of these stars resulting in images which forever capture the elegance and glamour of its day.

Glamour of the Gods at the National Portrait Gallery, until 23 Oct 2011. Book tickets

End of the Rainbow opened at Trafalgar Studios on Monday. The musical follows Hollywood legend Judy Garland (played by Tracie Bennett) towards the end of her life, as she embarks on a five-week run of shows London, which is approached in Garland’s typical shambolic-but-brilliant way.

We asked several theatre-goers what they thought of the show:

Kate, 32, Bethnal Green
Tracie Bennett doesn’t just play Judy Garland, she embodies her, perfectly capturing Garland’s every side from purring kitten to roaring lioness. She slinks and sashays around the stage, her tornado of a voice makes the walls shake, and she throws some pretty nifty dance moves, too. Captivating from hopeful start to tragic finish. I found it hard to believe so much life could be squeezed out of just 47 years.

Zoe, 30, Peckham Rye
End of the Rainbow is a must-see musical for all Judy Garland fans. It’s a pretty heartbreaking piece of theatre, but the brilliance of the songs really shines through. Tracie Bennett’s performance is nothing short of breathtaking. I’m too young to know (!) but a guy next to me in the audience who’d seen Judy perform live twice said he thought Bennett’s renditions of the songs were pretty much perfect.

Charlotte, 35, Clapham Junction
What a treat End of the Rainbow is! This stage biopic about Judy Garland illustrates how she was manipulated by all the men in her life, who played on her insecurities for their own ends. It also shows how she was trying to move on with her life in London when she tragically died. Tracie Bennett gives a superb performance as the brilliant yet deeply troubled Judy Garland and sings some of the classic songs she was famous for. Whether or not you are a fan of Judy Garland or only know her from The Wizard of Oz, I would highly recommend this play as a “must see”.

Jess, 29, Herne Hill
This is an incredible play. I was absolutely mesmerised by Tracie Bennett’s portrayal of Judy Garland. Her acting was incredible as was her singing – I really felt like I was watching Judy herself (she even looked so very like her). It was extremely touching – a real tear-jerker, as you can’t help but feel tremendous sympathy for Judy Garland. How Bennett will keep up such energy for the run I don’t know, because it is a very demanding role, both physically and emotionally. Whether you are a Judy Garland fan or not, I urge you to see this most magnificent play just to watch Bennett handle this role so wonderfully.

Madelene, 38, Finsbury Park
Sometimes you feel honoured going to see artists perform their craft and this was one of those moments. Tracie Bennett was absolutely magical.

Mark, 42, Chelsea
Tracie Bennett gives a bravura performance in this show. Having read Judy Garland’s biography and adoringly watched most (all?!) of her films, I thought Bennett’s portrayal was astoundingly accurate. Consequently End of the Rainbow was like watching a histrionic car crash – fascinating, frightening, utterly compelling and almost unwontedly enjoyable.

End of the Rainbow is on at Trafalgar Studios until 5 March. Get your End of the Rainbow tickets here.

The sensational story of Grace Kelly has fascinated generations; from Hollywood starlet to Oscar-winning actress to the Princess of Monaco. And her iconic status was enhanced by her innate style. 

The result is the most wonderful collection of outfits worn by Grace Kelly on screen and in her real-life role as a princess.

Despite making 11 movies between 1951 and 1956, Grace Kelly’s film career was brief: she retired at the age of 26 to marry Prince Rainier. In that short time, she worked with the world’s leading men, from Cary Grant to Frank Sinatra, and starred in three Hitchcock movies, confirming her status as a Hollywood star. 

Her outfits from this era portray the style of the 50s; flowing dresses and skirts, pastel palettes and American classics. She worked with famed costume designers, Edith Head and Helen Rose and their collaborations including costumes for High Society and Rear Window are featured in the exhibition along with Grace’s Oscar for Best Actress (for High Noon).

When Grace Kelly became the Princess of Monaco, her wardrobe moved to French couture, including Chanel, Balenciaga and Hermes to reflect the Princess’s new role.  Indeed, the Hermès Kelly bag was named after Grace as she used it to hide her pregnancies from the press and the original Kelly bag is featured at the exhibition.

The most mesmerising element of the collection are the outfits worn at key moments in Grace Kelly’s life:

• the floral dress she wore when she first met Prince Rainier
• the navy coat she wore as she arrived in Monaco to begin her life as a princess
• the lace suit worn at the civil marriage ceremony
• her green two piece suit worn when she met JFK 

Each is accompanied with a photo of the occasion.  This is a truly enchanting collection and one not to be missed as the V&A celebrates a true style icon.

Grace Kelly: Style Icon until 26 September 2010. Book tickets