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.
Full Filmography
Acting
In Neighboring Kingdoms
(1910)
A Dixie Mother
(1910)
A Tale of Two Cities
(1911)
(Mimi) Woman on the way to guillotine
The Child Crusoes
(1911)
His Official Appointment
(1912)
The Secretary of State's Daughter
Fortunes of a Composer
(1912)
The Musician's Daughter
Mrs. 'Enry 'Awkins
(1912)
Liza - Mrs. 'Enry 'Awkins
The Meeting of the Ways
(1912)
The Maid
The Troublesome Step-Daughters
(1912)
A Step-Daughter
Wanted... a Grandmother
(1912)
Bobby's Father
(1912)
Jane Ramsay - Bobby's Mother
The First Violin
(1912)
A Fortune in a Teacup
(1912)
Mabel Brown - Walter's Sister
Father's Hot Toddy
(1912)
First Daughter
The Higher Mercy
(1912)
Alice
Captain Barnacle's Waif
(1912)
The Lovesick Maidens of Cuddleton
(1912)
lovesick maiden
A Lady and Her Maid
(1913)
Belinda
Father's Hatband
(1913)
Doris Mason - the Daughter
Stenographer Troubles
(1913)
A Typist
Under the Daisies
(1913)
Viola Martin
Solitaires
(1913)
Julia
An Old Man's Love Story
(1913)
Ethel Marsham
Vampire of the Desert
(1913)
Ethel - Derrick's Fiancée
Getting Up a Practice
(1913)
He Fell in Love with His Mother-in-Law
(1913)
The Wife
The Helpful (?) Sisterhood
(1914)
Mary
The Peacemaker
(1914)
John Rance, Gentleman
(1914)
Lesbia Vane
Sawdust and Salome
(1914)
Mary - a Circus Rider
The Vavasour Ball
(1914)
Iron and Steel
(1914)
The Hero
(1914)
Maude
The Battle Cry of Peace
(1915)
Virginia Vandergriff
Captivating Mary Carstairs
(1915)
Mary Carstairs
The Devil's Needle
(1916)
Renee Duprez
Going Straight
(1916)
Grace Remington
The Social Secretary
(1916)
Mayme
The Crown Prince's Double
(1916)
Shirley Rives
The Children in the House
(1916)
Cora
Fifty-Fifty
(1916)
Naomi Harmon
Martha's Vindication
(1916)
Martha
The Missing Links
(1916)
Myra Holburn
Panthea
(1917)
Panthea Romoff
The Law of Compensation
(1917)
Flora Graham / Ruth Graham
Poppy
(1917)
Poppy Destinn
The Moth
(1917)
Lucy Gillam
The Secret of the Storm Country
(1917)
Tess Skinner
The Forbidden City
(1918)
San San / Toy
The Safety Curtain
(1918)
Puck
The Ghosts of Yesterday
(1918)
Ruth Graham / Jeanne La Fleur
By Right of Purchase
(1918)
Margot Hughes
De Luxe Annie
(1918)
Julie Kendal (De Luxe Annie II)
Her Only Way
(1918)
Lucille Westbrook
The Heart of Wetona
(1919)
Wetona
The New Moon
(1919)
Princess Marie Pavlovna
The Probation Wife
(1919)
Josephine Mowbray
The Way of a Woman
(1919)
Nancy Lee
The Isle of Conquest
(1919)
Ethel Harmon
A Daughter of Two Worlds
(1920)
Jennie Malone
She Loves and Lies
(1920)
Marie Callender, aka Marie Max and June Dayne
The Woman Gives
(1920)
Inga Sonderson
Yes or No
(1920)
Margaret Vane / Minnie Berry
The Branded Woman
(1920)
Ruth Sawyer
The Passion Flower
(1921)
Acacia, The Passion Flower
The Sign on the Door
(1921)
Ann Hunniwell / Mrs. 'Lafe' Regan
The Wonderful Thing
(1921)
Jacqueline Laurentine Boggs
Love's Redemption
(1921)
Jennie Dobson (aka Ginger)
Smilin' Through
(1922)
Kathleen / Moonyeen
The Eternal Flame
(1922)
Duchesse de Langeais
Seeing Stars
(1922)
Self
The Lovely Hundred
(1922)
Herself
Within the Law
(1923)
Mary Turner
Ashes of Vengeance
(1923)
Yolande de Breux
The Voice from the Minaret
(1923)
Lady Adrienne Carlyle
The Song of Love
(1923)
Noorma-hal
Secrets
(1924)
Mary Carlton
In Hollywood with Potash and Perlmutter
(1924)
Herself
The Only Woman
(1924)
Helen Brinsley
The Lady
(1925)
Polly Pearl
Graustark
(1925)
Princess Yetive
Kiki
(1926)
Kiki
Camille
(1927)
Marguerite Gautier (Camille)
The Dove
(1927)
Dolores
The Woman Disputed
(1928)
Mary Ann Wagner
Show People
(1928)
Self (uncredited)
New York Nights
(1929)
Jill Deverne
Du Barry, Woman of Passion
(1930)
Madame Du Barry
Screen Snapshots (Series 22, No. 10)
(1942)
Self (archive footage)
Just Show Folks
(2022)
Rosa
Production
Panthea
(1917)
Producer
De Luxe Annie
(1918)
Producer
The Probation Wife
(1919)
Producer
The Isle of Conquest
(1919)
Producer
Yes or No
(1920)
Producer
The Branded Woman
(1920)
Producer
The Passion Flower
(1921)
Producer
The Sign on the Door
(1921)
Producer
The Wonderful Thing
(1921)
Producer
Love's Redemption
(1921)
Producer
Smilin' Through
(1922)
Producer
The Eternal Flame
(1922)
Producer
Within the Law
(1923)
Producer
The Voice from the Minaret
(1923)
Producer
Ashes of Vengeance
(1923)
Producer
The Song of Love
(1923)
Producer
Secrets
(1924)
Producer
The Only Woman
(1924)
Producer
The Lady
(1925)
Producer
Kiki
(1926)
Producer
The Dove
(1927)
Producer
Camille
(1927)
Producer
The Woman Disputed
(1928)
Producer
New York Nights
(1929)
Producer