Born on January 5

German statesman, first Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany) from 1949 to 1963. A major figure in the rebuilding of post-war Germany, he anchored his country in the Western bloc and worked toward Franco-German reconciliation.

French painter of Russian origin, a major figure in 20th-century art. His work explores the boundary between abstraction and figuration, marked by thick layers of colored matter. His meteoric career ended with his suicide in Antibes in 1955.

Alvin Ailey (1931-1989) was an American dancer and choreographer, a major figure in modern dance. In 1958, he founded the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, a company that celebrates African American cultural heritage and brought modern dance to audiences around the world.

Iranian poet and filmmaker, a major figure of modern Persian poetry. Through intimate and bold writing about desire and the condition of women, she upended the literary conventions of her country. Her death in a car accident at the age of 32 made her an icon.

Deepika Padukone is an Indian actress and model born in 1986 in Copenhagen. The daughter of badminton champion Prakash Padukone, she has become one of Bollywood's most influential and highest-paid actresses. She is also known for her public advocacy for mental health awareness.