Farrah Fawcett's Journey: Golden Girl's Iconic Career

June 25, 2009— -- From her glory days as a pinup girl, to her days on "Charlie's Angels," to her valiant fight against cancer, Farrah Fawcett, who died today at the age of 62, became a symbol of the will to live.

At the end of her two and half year battle with cancer, those who know and love Fawcett spoke exclusively to Barbara Walters in the actress's final days.

Watch a special edition of "20/20" TONIGHT at 10 p.m. ET for the Barbara Walters special "Farrah's Love."

"An amazing woman, with simple roots that ... took on challenges that others wouldn't try. I always admire women that are independent, that ... have a dream and look as good as she does," longtime love Ryan O' Neal told Walters.

In 1976, Fawcett was the pinup girl who launched a million fantasies. The iconic poster with her dazzling smile, cascading golden hair and bombshell body sold an unprecedented 12 million copies, catapulting Fawcett into a sex symbol, idolized by both men and women.

As the decade's "It Girl," her hair, which became known as the "Farrah Do," was emulated by millions around the world.

"That signature hair will definitely be remembered forever and ever and ever ... It was an easy carefree haircut, windblown, but also very sexy and very feminine. Everybody wanted it," legendary hairstylist Jose Eber, who has known and worked with the actress for over 30 years, told Walters.

"...But I think that Farrah ... represented to me what a woman was in the 70s," Eber said. "Woman's lib ...There was a freedom about Farrah's look. There was something healthy about her."

In a 1980 interview, just as her career was beginning to blossom, Fawcett opened up to Walters about her self-regard, ranking herself on a scale of one to 10.

"A nine. ... Barely a nine. I was going to say eight-and-a-half but I thought fractions aren't good," Fawcett told Walters.

"I think you have to have all of me in order to think that I'm beautiful. In other words, it's not just my looks. I think I have to speak and move and relate for you to feel that ... for you to feel beauty from me."

Known for her good looks, the actress later told Walters she was "exasperated" by those who seemingly ignored her intellectual side.

"I think it's a little bit of a curse," Fawcett said of her looks.