Ava Gardner, often labeled “the world’s most beautiful animal,” made a series of revelations on her deathbed about her infamous Hollywood love relationships.

Gardner asked British writer Peter Evans to ghost write her memoirs, which were published for the first time in Evans’ last book, “Ava Gardner: The Secret Conversations,” in January 1988.

The star was destroyed by alcohol, cigarettes, and a stroke.

Destitute and alone, the former Hollywood diva who had just two options: “I either write the book or sell the jewels,” she said. “And I’m kinda sentimental about the jewels.”

Gardner is still acknowledged as one of Hollywood’s finest talents, despite the fact that she has been deceased for over 20 years.

The one-time cinema goddess’s dying confessions are included in “Ava Gardner: The Secret Conversations.”

One of the most stunning disclosures was that Ava’s first husband, Mickey Rooney, was such a womanizer that he cheated on her in their marital bed – while she was in the hospital recovering from an appendectomy.

‘He went through the ladies like a hot knife through fudge,’ Gardner said.

Gardner, who later married musician Artie Shaw, described him as “another kind of bully” who “always put her down,” according to the book.

She actually took an IQ test to prove to herself that she wasn’t stupid.

Shaw left her for another woman after a year of marriage.

Gardner’s crazy first date with soon-to-be third husband Frank Sinatra was another unexpected revelation.

Sinatra realized it was true love when they went on a late-night drunken drive from Palm Springs to Indio and “shot out streetlights and store windows” with a pair of .38s the Chairman had in his glove compartment.

Gardner and Sinatra married, but their six-year union had its ups and downs.

Gardner described Sinatra as her “love of her life” and the two stayed close until her death.

According to the New York Post, Gardner was able to postpone releasing her memoirs because the singer handed her the money she would have earned.

Gardner had an affair with Robert Mitchum, who was married at the time, while seeing Sinatra; she stated she was obsessed about him.

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Mitchum stopped relations after she told him she was dating Sinatra as well. He said, ‘Get into a fight with him, and he won’t stop until one of you is dead,’ ” Gardner claimed. “He didn’t want to risk it being him.”

Another guy with whom she had a relationship was George C. Scott, who she said would frequently beat her when inebriated.

Gardner was born on Christmas Eve 1922 into an impoverished household in Grabtown, North Carolina.

As a youngster, she was discovered and sent to Hollywood, where she secured a seven-year deal with MGM Studios.

Gardner had been a virgin since she was a teenager when she was spotted by a talent scout in 1941. Her mother had always known that Ava had what it took to be a movie star, despite the fact that she had grown up impoverished and illiterate. She felt the same way.

Gardner stated, “I wasn’t dumb. I knew that my looks might get me through the studio gates.”

She was well aware that she wasn’t a particularly good actor, and she didn’t seem to mind: “A lot of my stuff ended up on the cutting-room floor,” she said. “A lot more should have.”

Simon and Schuster published the 304-page book, which is available on Amazon.com.