Bessie Love
Biography
Bessie Love was an American-British actress whose career stretched from silent film into sound, theater, radio and television. Born Juanita Horton in Midland, Texas, she was placed under contract by D.W. Griffith after visiting a film set, and he gave her a small role in Intolerance (1916). Early on she played innocent girls and wholesome leading ladies, and she starred in the science fiction adventure The Lost World (1925). Her work in The Broadway Melody (1929) earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress and a contract with MGM; she also appeared in The Hollywood Revue of 1929 (1929). Later she worked mainly in Britain on stage and BBC radio, with supporting roles in Nowhere to Go (1958), Isadora (1968), Sunday Bloody Sunday (1971), The Ritz (1976) and Reds (1981). Her final film was The Hunger (1983), and she received a Hollywood Walk of Fame star in 1960.
87years old at death
- Born Midland
- Died London
- Star sign: VirgoThe sign runs August 23 to September 22
- Juanita Horton (birth name)Also credited as Bessie Hawks
Movie Career
- Films
- 14
- Career span
- 67 years1916 to 1983
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About the name
Griffith's associate Frank Woods chose Bessie Love as Horton's stage name. Her given name did not fit theater marquees and was hard to pronounce, so he picked Bessie, which any child can say, and Love, so everyone would love her.
A change of course
Because film stars were expected to entertain studio executives at parties, Love picked up singing, dancing and the ukulele. She polished these skills and later used them onscreen and on the stage.
A change of course
While in Britain during World War II, acting jobs were scarce, so Love took work as script supervisor on the 1943 film drama San Demetrio London.
Behind the camera
Love wrote The Homecoming, a semiautobiographical play, and also performed in it. The play opened in Perth, Scotland in 1958.
Bessie Love movies on Netflix
Best known for
The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.
- The Lost World1925 Adventure, Drama, Fantasy, Horror, Romance, Sci-Fi, Thrilleras Paula White
IMDb rating 7.06.7K votes
- Intolerance: Love's Struggle Throughout the Ages1916as The Bride of Cana (Judean Story)
IMDb rating 7.618K votes
Most often with
Five actors appear in two of them each. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.
Films together
Maurice Denham's page
Warren Beatty's page
Harold Goldblatt's page
Anita Page's page
Charles King's page
Awards
Two awards and honors.
| Year | Award | Film | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other honors | |||
| Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame | Honored | ||
| WAMPAS Baby Stars | Won | ||
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.