Beverly Bayne

She played the feminine lead in the latter. Under contract to Essanay at this time was Gloria Swanson. It is said that Swanson wept because her eyes were blue and not brown as were Bayne's. Brown eyes were considered preferable for photography then. Other actors on the lot were Wallace Beery, Charlie Chaplin, and Francis X. Bushman. Bushman demanded Beverly as his female lead, and soon they were a romantic duo, appearing in twenty-four films. Their first film together was Pennington's Choice (1915). In 1917 the couple made Romeo and Juliet, which generated a sizeable profit. Read Less

Unable to make a comeback, she worked on stage productions and on Broadway throughout the 1930s and 1940s. During the early 1940s, Miss Bayne performed in radio and did an occasional play. During World War II her serious work involved British War Relief.

Her only sound film was The Naked City (1948) with Barry Fitzgerald and Howard Duff. It was also her last film. Read Less