The Character: Elizabeth Short The Inspiration: Elizabeth Short (The Black Dahlia) The Story: Who doesn't know the story of The Black Dahlia? Well, it goes like this. Aspiring actress Elizabeth Short's body was found in 1947, ripped in half, with a smile carved into her beautiful 22-year-old face now known as the "Glasgow Smile". What makes this all the more terrifying (and famous), is that The Black Dahlia murderer was never found.