Florence Lawrence

Florence Lawrence January 2, 1890 one source cites 1886 December 28, 1938 was a CanadianAmerican stage performer and film actress. She is often referred to as The First Movie Star, and was the first film actor to be named publicly. At the height of her fame in the 1910s, she was known as The Biograph Girl, The Imp Girl, and The Girl of a Thousand Faces. She appeared in almost 300 films for various motion picture companies.

On February 18, 1898, George Bridgwood died from accidental coal gas poisoning at his home in Hamilton Lawrences parents had been separated since she was four years old. Lotta Lawrence moved the family from Hamilton to Buffalo, New York to live with her mother, Ann Dunn. She chose to stop bringing her children along for stage performances and for the first time, Florence was enrolled in school. After graduating, Lawrence rejoined her mothers dramatic company. However, her mother disbanded the Lawrence Dramatic Company shortly thereafter the two moved to New York City around 1906.She was one of several Canadian pioneers in the film industry who were attracted by the rapid growth of the fledgling motion picture business. In 1906, she appeared in her first motion picture. The next year, she appeared inmovies for the Vitagraph film company. During the spring and summer of 1906, Lawrence auditioned for a number of Broadway productions, with no success. However, on December 27, 1906, she was hired by the Edison Manufacturing Company to play Daniel Boones daughter in Daniel Boone or, Pioneer days in America. She got the part because she knew how to ride a horse. Both she and her mother received parts, and were paid five dollars a day for two weeks of outdoor filming in freezing weather. ........

Source: Wikipedia