Step 1 : Introduction to the question "What movie featured Hollywood's first million-dollar female starring role?"
...Elizabeth Rosemond Taylor was one of the most iconic stars to come out of the old Hollywood studio system. She made her screen debut at age 10 in 1942. She became a national star in 1944 when she starred in "National Velvet." Known worldwide for her beauty, Elizabeth was also an accomplished actress. She was nominated for an Academy Award several times before winning her own Oscar in 1960 for "Butterfield 8." In 1963 she landed the starring role in "Cleopatra," one of the most expensive productions at that time. Her salary for that role was an unprecedented (for a female role) one million dollars. Source: IMDb.com