Pauline Frederick was regarded by audiences and, more notably, by her peers as one of the greatest and most powerful actresses of the screen. A well-known stage star, she was already in her 30s when she began making films. She specialized in playing commanding and authoritative women throughout her film career. Her stunning beauty stayed with her as she aged into her best remembered roles--sacrificing mothers and 40-something women having a last fling at youth and romance. She was one of the earliest stars to try talkies, and was successful there as well. The roles she received in the 1930s were not as important as her silent work, though she often still managed to steal the film--generally playing an angry matriarch. Frederick was a brave and honest actress who was willing to take on parts that other actresses feared and make them her own, and she created some of the most memorable portraits of the silent screen.

This website is a work in progress, and will be updated as I see more Frederick films and acquire more articles.

Frederick in a still from an unidentified film. Click on thumbnail for larger view (Thanks to Gail Orwig for this picture and the one at the top of the page)