Norma Talmadge
Acting
Biography
Norma Talmadge started her career in one-reelers in 1909 for Vitagraph, playing bit roles as a young teenager starting. As she continually worked at the studio over the next several years, her parts grew until she frequently started as the leading lady.
Her young promising career got a huge boost after her marriage to exhibitor Joseph M. Schenck. Together, they formed the Norma Talmadge Film Corporation in 1917 and began producing Star vechiles for Talmadge. Specializing in melodramas and woman’s pictures, Talmadge became one of the biggest stars of the 1920s, starting in hits such as Smilin’ Through, Secrets, The Lady, and Kiki.
With her star already fading when the talkie revolution swept Hollywood, Talmadge made just two sound films before retiring from the screen. Although largely forgotten today, Talmadge was a pioneering producer and director who stood as one of the most popular and powerful women in early Hollywood.
Notable Works
Prominent titles featuring Norma Talmadge
Show People
1928
Filmography
Acting (93)
2022
Just Show Folksas Rosa
1942
Screen Snapshots (Series 22, No. 10)as Self (archive footage)
1930
Du Barry, Woman of Passionas Madame Du Barry
6.0
1929
New York Nightsas Jill Deverne
5.5
1928
Show Peopleas Self (uncredited)
7.1
1928
The Woman Disputedas Mary Ann Wagner
7.1
1927
The Doveas Dolores
6.8
1927
Camilleas Marguerite Gautier (Camille)
3.7
1926
Kikias Kiki
7.8
1925
Graustarkas Princess Yetive
9.0
1925
The Ladyas Polly Pearl
5.8
1924
The Only Womanas Helen Brinsley
8.0
1924
In Hollywood with Potash and Perlmutteras Herself
9.0
1924
Secretsas Mary Carlton
6.0
1923
The Song of Loveas Noorma-hal
6.2
1923
Ashes of Vengeanceas Yolande de Breux
6.0
1923
Within the Lawas Mary Turner
5.6
1923
The Voice from the Minaretas Lady Adrienne Carlyle
10.0
1922
The Lovely Hundredas Herself
10.0
1922
Seeing Starsas Self
4.9
1922
The Eternal Flameas Duchesse de Langeais
10.0
1922
Smilin' Throughas Kathleen / Moonyeen
6.5
1921
Love's Redemptionas Jennie Dobson (aka Ginger)
10.0
1921
The Wonderful Thingas Jacqueline Laurentine Boggs
8.0
1921
The Sign on the Dooras Ann Hunniwell / Mrs. 'Lafe' Regan
9.0
1921
The Passion Floweras Acacia, The Passion Flower
9.0
1920
The Branded Womanas Ruth Sawyer
8.0
1920
Yes or Noas Margaret Vane / Minnie Berry
6.7
1920
The Woman Givesas Inga Sonderson
7.0
1920
A Daughter of Two Worldsas Jennie Malone
8.0
1920
She Loves and Liesas Marie Callender, aka Marie Max and June Dayne
8.0
1919
The Isle of Conquestas Ethel Harmon
9.0
1919
The Way of a Womanas Nancy Lee
8.0
1919
The Probation Wifeas Josephine Mowbray
7.0
1919
The New Moonas Princess Marie Pavlovna
8.0
1919
The Heart of Wetonaas Wetona
6.0
1918
The Forbidden Cityas San San / Toy
5.7
1918
Her Only Wayas Lucille Westbrook
1918
The Safety Curtainas Puck
6.8
1918
De Luxe Annieas Julie Kendal (De Luxe Annie II)
1918
By Right of Purchaseas Margot Hughes
9.0
1918
The Ghosts of Yesterdayas Ruth Graham / Jeanne La Fleur
1917
The Secret of the Storm Countryas Tess Skinner
1917
The Mothas Lucy Gillam
1.0
1917
Poppyas Poppy Destinn
1917
The Law of Compensationas Flora Graham / Ruth Graham
3.7
1917
Pantheaas Panthea Romoff
1916
Fifty-Fiftyas Naomi Harmon
5.0
1916
The Social Secretaryas Mayme
5.6
1916
The Devil's Needleas Renee Duprez
6.4
1916
Going Straightas Grace Remington
6.0
1916
The Children in the Houseas Cora
4.8
1916
Martha's Vindicationas Martha
1916
The Crown Prince's Doubleas Shirley Rives
1916
The Missing Linksas Myra Holburn
1915
The Battle Cry of Peaceas Virginia Vandergriff
1915
Captivating Mary Carstairsas Mary Carstairs
1914
1914
John Rance, Gentlemanas Lesbia Vane
1914
The Helpful (?) Sisterhoodas Mary
5.0
1914
The Heroas Maude
8.0
1914
7.0
1914
Sawdust and Salomeas Mary - a Circus Rider
2.3
1914
The Vavasour Ballas The Dramatist's Wife
7.0
1913
Father's Hatbandas Doris Mason - the Daughter
5.0
1913
Under the Daisiesas Viola Martin
1913
He Fell in Love with His Mother-in-Lawas The Wife
8.0
1913
An Old Man's Love Storyas Ethel Marsham
1913
Solitairesas Julia
1913
A Lady and Her Maidas Belinda
6.0
1913
Vampire of the Desertas Ethel - Derrick's Fiancée
9.0
1913
Omens and Oraclesas Belinda
9.0
1913
Stenographer Troublesas A Typist
7.3
1912
His Official Appointmentas The Secretary of State's Daughter
6.5
1912
Father's Hot Toddyas First Daughter
9.0
1912
Bobby's Fatheras Jane Ramsay - Bobby's Mother
9.0
7.0
1912
A Fortune in a Teacupas Mabel Brown - Walter's Sister
8.0
1912
The Higher Mercyas Alice
7.0
1912
The Lovesick Maidens of Cuddletonas Lovesick Maiden
7.5
7.0
1912
The Troublesome Step-Daughtersas A Step-Daughter
4.0
1912
Fortunes of a Composeras The Musician's Daughter
4.0
1912
Mrs. 'Enry 'Awkinsas Liza - Mrs. 'Enry 'Awkins
5.0
1912
1912
The Meeting of the Waysas The Maid
4.0
1911
A Tale of Two Citiesas (Mimi) Woman on the way to guillotine
5.0
1910
4.0
10.0
Production & Directing (25)
1929
New York NightsProducer
5.5
1928
The Woman DisputedProducer
7.1
1927
The DoveProducer
6.8
1927
CamilleProducer
3.7
1926
KikiProducer
7.8
1925
The LadyProducer
5.8
1924
The Only WomanProducer
8.0
1924
SecretsProducer
6.0
1923
The Song of LoveProducer
6.2
1923
Ashes of VengeanceProducer
6.0
1923
Within the LawProducer
5.6
1923
The Voice from the MinaretProducer
10.0
1922
Seeing StarsProducer
4.9
1922
The Eternal FlameProducer
10.0
1922
Smilin' ThroughProducer
6.5
1921
Love's RedemptionProducer
10.0
1921
The Wonderful ThingProducer
8.0
1921
The Sign on the DoorProducer
9.0
1921
The Passion FlowerProducer
9.0
1920
The Branded WomanProducer
8.0
1920
Yes or NoProducer
6.7
1919
The Isle of ConquestProducer
9.0
1919
The Probation WifeProducer
7.0
1918
De Luxe AnnieProducer
1917
PantheaProducer