Q20. What is your favorite flower?

When designing the quiz "Which Iconic 1950s Actress Are You?", I wanted each question to be more than just a fun exercise. I wanted it to be a reflection of the distinct personalities and images of the legendary actresses from the 1950s—Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn, Elizabeth Taylor, and Grace Kelly. One of the questions that I believe captures this essence beautifully is: "What is your favorite flower?" This might seem like a simple question, but the flower you choose can reveal a lot about which iconic actress from the 1950s you most align with.

Let’s dive into each of the options and explore why I paired each flower with a particular actress.

Roses: Marilyn Monroe

Roses are often seen as the quintessential flower of romance, passion, and beauty, which makes them a perfect match for Marilyn Monroe. Marilyn was the epitome of classic Hollywood beauty and sensuality. She was known for her ability to captivate an audience with her charm and undeniable allure. Much like roses, Marilyn had a timeless appeal that continues to enchant people even decades after her passing.

Roses also have a duality to them—they’re beautiful but have thorns, which is a fitting metaphor for Marilyn’s life. She was an icon of glamour, yet her personal life was marked by struggles and complexities that the public only glimpsed. The rose’s ability to thrive and bloom even with its thorns mirrors Marilyn’s ability to shine brightly despite the challenges she faced. So, if you chose roses, it suggests that you admire or relate to Marilyn Monroe’s blend of beauty and strength, her vulnerability wrapped in a layer of allure.

Lilies: Audrey Hepburn

Lilies are elegant, understated, and have an air of purity and grace, much like Audrey Hepburn. Audrey was not just an actress; she was a humanitarian and a style icon, revered for her classic and timeless beauty. The choice of lilies for Audrey reflects her elegance and the simplicity that defined her style and persona.

Lilies are often associated with refined beauty and the kind of quiet strength that doesn’t need to be loud to be noticed. This is very much in line with Audrey Hepburn’s approach to life and her career. She wasn’t the typical Hollywood starlet—she was soft-spoken, yet her presence was powerful. Her roles in movies like "Breakfast at Tiffany’s" and "Roman Holiday" showcase her ability to convey deep emotions with subtlety and grace, much like how a lily adds a touch of refinement to any setting without being overly flashy.

If lilies are your favorite, it might indicate that you value simplicity, elegance, and a kind of beauty that is more about inner grace than outward show. It suggests a connection to Audrey Hepburn’s quiet confidence and her belief in the power of kindness.

Violets: Elizabeth Taylor

Violets are often seen as symbols of loyalty, devotion, and delicate beauty—qualities that align well with Elizabeth Taylor. Elizabeth, with her striking violet eyes, was a woman of intense passion and an indomitable spirit. She was known for her dramatic roles in Hollywood as well as her dramatic personal life, filled with multiple marriages, activism, and a fierce loyalty to those she loved.

Violets, while small and seemingly delicate, have a strong presence and a captivating charm, just like Elizabeth. They represent a beauty that isn’t always immediately obvious but becomes more profound the closer you look. Elizabeth Taylor’s beauty was not just about her physical appearance but also about her strength of character and her ability to stand up for what she believed in, whether it was through her acting or her work in HIV/AIDS advocacy.

Choosing violets suggests that you might admire or resonate with Elizabeth Taylor’s depth, her commitment to her causes, and her ability to remain true to herself despite the public scrutiny she often faced. It’s a choice that speaks to a love of beauty that goes beyond the surface and an appreciation for a life lived boldly and with conviction.

Tulips: Grace Kelly

Tulips are known for their simple, yet elegant beauty, and they symbolize grace and refinement—qualities that define Grace Kelly. Grace Kelly was the epitome of elegance, both in her Hollywood career and later as the Princess of Monaco. Her poise and sophistication were unmatched, making her one of the most beloved actresses of her time.

Tulips are versatile flowers; they can be vibrant and colorful, or they can be soft and muted, much like Grace Kelly’s ability to be both the glamorous movie star and the dignified princess. There is a simplicity to tulips that belies their elegance, which is very much in line with how Grace Kelly carried herself. She had a natural grace that didn’t need embellishment, much like the tulip, which is beautiful in its simplicity.

If tulips are your go-to flower, it suggests that you appreciate the quieter, more refined side of life. It points to an admiration for Grace Kelly’s classic beauty and her ability to bring a sense of calm and grace to any situation. It’s a choice that speaks to a love of elegance that is unpretentious and a respect for the timeless.

In designing this question, I wanted to give participants a way to connect with these iconic actresses on a personal level, through something as simple yet revealing as their favorite flower. Each flower represents more than just a preference; it’s a window into the kind of person you are or aspire to be, much like how these actresses have become symbols of different qualities and ideals.

Whether you choose the passionate rose, the elegant lily, the loyal violet, or the graceful tulip, each option offers a reflection of the unique traits that made Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn, Elizabeth Taylor, and Grace Kelly the legends they are today. Through this quiz, I hope to offer a fun and insightful way for you to explore which of these iconic 1950s actresses you are most like, based on the qualities you cherish most in yourself and others.

So next time you’re asked what your favorite flower is, think about what that choice says about you—because in this quiz, your answer could reveal which timeless Hollywood legend you are at heart.