Note: The profiles in this series in no way imply any endorsement of Junonia products or services by the women profiled or their estates.

Uta Hagen
Her name may not be as famous as those of her pupils, but Uta Hagen's work will be on display on Broadway stages, in movie theaters and on TV screens for decades to come. As one of the world's leading acting teachers, Hagen spent more than fifty years helping aspiring stars hone their craft. It's not too far-reaching to call her the invisible hand behind many of the last century's definitive works of art.

Born June 12, 1919 in Germany, Hagen emigrated with her family to Madison, Wisconsin in her early childhood. She began her stage career in her teens, making her debut as Hamlet's mad sister Ophelia. Hagen soon gained a reputation as a versatile performer who was equally adept at leading and supporting roles. She earned Tony Awards for her turns in 1957's "The Country Girl" and 1961's "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?", the latter of which more or less defined female lead performances for the decade.

As heralded as she was for her acting, Hagen's greatest contributions came behind the scenes. In 1957 she married acting instructor Herbert Berghof and began teaching at his prestigious HB School in New York City. She soon became one of the most sought-after mentors in the acting sphere. Her pupils included an astonishing roster of Hollywood luminaries, including future Academy Award winners Robert DeNiro, Al Pacino, Liza Minnelli, Jack Lemmon, Geraldine Page and Whoopi Goldberg. Hagen’s books on the craft, 1973's "Respect for Acting" and 1991's "A Challenge for the Actor", became staples in drama classes around the world. Starving artists greatly appreciated her low instruction fees - her classes weren't easy to get into, but sessions seldom cost more than $10.

Diligent to the end, Hagen continued to teach into her 80s, fostering newer talents like Matthew Broderick and Amanda Peet. In 2002, she was awarded the National Medal of the Arts, one of the highest honors any American performer can receive. Uta Hagen passed on in 2004, but her memory lives on in several generations of grateful actors a nd actresses.

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