In 1916, American women faced significant limitations: they couldn’t vote, own property without their husbands’ consent, or serve on juries. Yet, in the heart of Hollywood, one woman wielded remarkable power—Mary Pickford, the original movie star, and even today, she remains one of the most influential figures in cinematic history.
Pickford transitioned to film after a promising stint on Broadway, catching the eye of pioneering filmmaker D.W. Griffith during a brief screen test in 1909. This led to a contract with his production company, Biograph, where she starred in an astonishing 51 films in just one year. Despite rapidly gaining popularity, she was often simply referred to as the “Biograph Girl,” as actors’ names were not credited at that time.
After signing with Famous Players-Lasky (later Paramount) in 1913, her visibility skyrocketed. Unlike many of her contemporaries, Pickford understood that acting for film differed from stage performance; she adopted more subtle expressions and natural movements. Audiences were captivated by her roles in films such as Caprice and Hearts Adrift. She even became the first star to have her name featured prominently in promotional materials.
Today, many aspiring actors struggle to recognize their worth and negotiate fair compensation, often relying on agents for guidance. However, in the 1910s, when women often couldn’t even open bank accounts, Pickford was a savvy businesswoman, ensuring she received her fair share of the profits she generated for her studio.
Her rise to global fame gave her considerable leverage, and in 1916, she renegotiated her contract with Famous Players-Lasky. This agreement offered her an unprecedented salary of $10,000 per week, alongside complete creative control over her films—privileges that even top directors today often do not possess.
Most significantly, she secured 50% of the profits from each of her films, a groundbreaking business move that set a precedent for future stars. From Cary Grant and Sandra Bullock to Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts, many have followed her model, earning millions by capitalizing on their own fame.
This new contract ultimately earned Pickford over $1 million—a staggering amount that would equal over $22 million today. None of this would have transpired without her bold requests. Though she was undoubtedly talented, she also possessed the foresight to leverage her status in ways few actors have managed since.
Just three years after becoming the first actor to earn a $1 million salary, she co-founded United Artists alongside Charlie Chaplin, D.W. Griffith, and her husband, Douglas Fairbanks. This move granted her full control over the production and distribution of her films—an extraordinary level of independence rarely seen in later years.
Interestingly, her financial success was built, in part, on the notion of women as delicate and childlike. Pickford often portrayed innocent young women and even children well into her thirties. It’s intriguing to consider whether she would have achieved similar success had she portrayed the powerful, business-minded woman she truly was, rather than conforming to the industry’s stereotypes of femininity.
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