BORN ON THIS DAY

MARY ASTOR (1906-1987). The U.S. Oscar winner (born Lucile Langhanke) made her debut at 14 and starred in more than 100 films, including opposite Humphrey Bogart in The Maltese Falcon. In a 1963 custody battle with her husband, excerpts from her diary were read out in court to prove her ‘continuing gross immoral conduct’ (she was having an affair with a married playwright). In the end, the judge ordered the diary to be burnt and the couple agreed to joint custody of their daughter. JAMES BROWN ( 19332006). The U.S. ‘Godfather of Soul’ was brought up by a brothel- owning aunt and earned money as a child by tap- dancing in the streets. The singer ( right) was nicknamed ‘ the hardestworking man in showbusiness’, doing up to 350 shows a year, but he was also a womaniser, abused drugs and meted out brutal beatings on his girlfriends and wives.