Measurements: 35-24-33 (in 1930), 36 1/2-26-33 (mid-1950s), (Source: Celebrity Sleuth magazine)
Mother of Maria Riva.
Never worked without a mirror on the set so she could constantly check her makeup and hair.
Once said that her favorite meal was hotdogs and champagne.
Proficient on the musical saw.
Received the U.S. War Department's 'Medal of Freedom', in 1947, for entertaining American troops in WWII and her strong stand against Naziism.
She demanded that Max Factor sprinkle half an ounce of real gold dust into her wigs to add glitter to her tresses during filming.
She prided herself on the fact that she had slept with three men of the Kennedy clan - Joseph P. Kennedy, Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. and John F. Kennedy.
She spent her last decade in her apartment on the avenue Montaigne in Paris, during which time she was not seen in public but was a prolific letter-writer and phone-caller. In 1984, Academy Award winning actor Maximilian Schell persuaded her to be interviewed for a documentary, but she did not appear on screen.
She sucked lemon wedges between takes to keep her mouth muscles tight.
She thought of feet to be the ugliest part of the human body, and therefore always tried to hide them in one way or another
She was voted the 43rd Greatest Movie Star of all time by Entertainment Weekly.
Ten years after her death, Berlin - the city of Dietrich's birth which she shunned for most of her life - declared her an honorary citizen. On April 18, 2002, the city's legislature bestowed honor on her as "an ambassador for a democratic, freedom-loving and humane Germany." The declaration hoped this "would symbolize the city of Berlin's reconciliation with her."
The only show-business friend she ever had was Mae West. However, they never saw one another outside the Paramount lot.
Was considered for the role of Margo Channing in All About Eve (1950) after Claudette Colbert was forced to pull out of the project due to back injury. However the part was given to Bette Davis, who went on to receive a Best Actress Oscar nomination for her performance.
Was made a Chevaliere of the Legion by France.
Was named #9 Actress on The AFI 50 Greatest Screen Legends
Won a Special Tony Award in 1968.