Lauren Bacall is 86 years young today: true survivor, a great lady and a living Hollywood legend whose career now spans seven decades.

Lauren (or “Betty” as her friends call her) was one half of the Bogie-Bacall “fairytale” Hollywood romance, practically christened The Rat Pack, and was a powerhouse blend of brains and beauty that rather reinvented the idea of screen sexy. (Watch her with Marilyn Monroe and Betty Grable in How to Marry a Millionaire and you’ll see what I mean…) Her smoky voice, angular features and square-shooting sass made her famous on the screen–but her dignity, grace and loyalty off the screen is what really makes her great.

Here’s looking at you, Betty.