Edna Purviance — Blue Book of the Screen (1923) 🇺🇸

Perhaps one of the strangest cases of a screen star is the one of Edna Purviance.

She has not only become a star without any stage experience, but without any screen training other than working in Charlie Chaplin pictures. She is the only actress in the profession that has reached stardom by being loyal to her benefactor.

Miss Purviance, whose full name is Edna Olga, was born in Reno, Nev. Her early education was obtained there, but later she was brought to San Francisco where she went to high school.

It was when Charlie Chaplin broke away from the Keystone company to be starred by Essanay that Miss Purviance was given her opportunity to play opposite Chaplin, who at that time was not recognized as the world’s greatest comedian.

Chaplin discovered that the public liked the Purviance-Chaplin team and she continued working in his comedies while his name was sky-rocketing in the film world. After playing in a series of comedies at Essanay she was engaged by the Mutual film company to play opposite Chaplin, whom they had signed.

From there she went to the Chaplin studios where productions were under way for First National release.

During the stretch of time when Miss Purviance was playing comedy leads, however great or small, Chaplin watched her dramatic development, and since finishing his latest film, “The Pilgrim,” he has written a full-length feature society drama for the purpose of starring his former leading lady. He is now directing that production and Miss Purviance will soon be seen as a full-fledged star of a dramatic production.

Miss Purviance is five feet four inches tall, and weighs 130 pounds.

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After playing the girl lead to Charles Chaplin for several years, Edna Purviance suddenly finds herself the star of a society drama, with the world’s famous comedian as her director.

Portrait by Alfred Cheney Johnston • Los Angeles

Collection: The Blue Book of the Screen (1923)