Actress Jane Russell dies, aged 89

Actress Jane Russell has died of respiratory failure at the age of 89.

Born in Minnesota in 1921 to Roy William Russell and Geraldine Jacobi, Russell was discovered by movie mogul Howard Hughes in 1940. Her first film The Outlaw catapulted her to fame three years later. Its poster, showing the actress posing provocatively with a gun in a bale of hay, sparked controversy at the time.

She worked with many of the industry's stars in the '40s and '50s, appearing alongside Marilyn Monroe in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes in 1953. She also worked with Frank Sinatra, Groucho Marx and Vincent Price during the '50s.

In a statement to Reuters, her son Buck Waterfield said: "Jane Russell passed away peacefully today (Monday) at home surrounded by her children at her bedside."

She is survived by three children.