wow this is a good one my i pry for a hint
This sweet lady was built in Nashville, and has gone under a lot of bridges in her day. She got her current name in 1976, carrying three names prior to the one she carries today. She is also a movie star, having parts in films in 1982 and 1983 (source does not identify). Her heartbeat was built just over a decade it's creator became an 'evil cooperation' and she's been doing the job of 500 horses ever since.
Lots of information in there, hopefully cryptically encoded so as not to help TOO much.
EDIT: Rodondo got it... so here's her vital statistics so you can see where the hint would have lead:
Lady Lois
Length 100 feet - Width 20 feet - Sternwheel GM series 60 500 HP
Built 1928 by Nashville Bridge Co., Nashville, TN
Originally Catherine D
Renamed C. A. Irvin
Renamed Graco
Renamed Lady Lois 8/1976
Renamed (for film only) Charles W. Stone 3/1982
Renamed (for film only) Mississippi 1983