Bessie Love, 1920s. Bessie was a star of the silent film era and one of the few silent movie actresses who successfully made the transition to the "talkies.”
Love began her career as a movie actress at the age of 17 and specialized in playing the part of innocent young girls on screen. This persona carried over into her adult years, as she continued to portray wholesome characters, for the most part. Her acting career spanned eight decades, and she continued to work well into her 80s. Her last movie role was with David Bowie in The Hunger in 1983, just a few years before her death. She appeared in over 70 movies during the Silent Film era and just as many during the sound era. Many of her silent films have been lost. In 1929 she was nominated for an Oscar for Best Actress for her role in “Broadway Melody,” one of the first sound movies. She is honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Bessie Love wrote a book titled “From Hollywood with Love,” about her experiences in the film industry.
