Blanche Sweet Biography

Fast Facts

• Started out as a child actress, appearing in stage plays from the age of 18 months
• Began working in film for the Biograph Company at the age of 13, remaining with them from 1909 to 1913
• Quote: "(On losing her the lead role in "Birth of a Nation" and leaving Biograph): "I was stubborn, I was difficult, I played games, I was to fall in love, oh there are reasons and reasons․""
• Best known as a silent film actress who appeared in "Anna Christie," "The Sporting Venus," and "Tess of the D'Urbervilles․"
• During her later career, she appeared in vaudeville shows and on Broadway in plays like "The Petrified Forest" and "The Party's Over․"
• Worked for several film companies, including the Jeese L․ Lasky Feature Play Company and First National Pictures, Incorporated, before joining Metro-Goldwyn in 1924
• Only appeared in three sound films: "Show Girl in Hollywood," "The Silver Horde," and "The Woman Racket," all of which were released in 1930
• Was featured in two documentaries: "Portrait of Blanche" in 1978 and "Before the Nickelodeon" in 1982