Ordean Stark — The Screen Children’s Gallery (1914) 🇺🇸

A little while ago I walked into a motion picture house to talk with an exhibitor. Involuntarily my eyes wandered in the direction of the screen, and immediately stayed there charmed by the work of a child artist whom I had never seen before either on or off the screen.

by W. Stephen Bush

The talent of the little girl was so obvious, her manner was so delightful, her acting so utterly free from self-consciousness that I resolved right there and then to look for her and give the readers of the Moving Picture World a chance to learn more about her. The girl took part in a Ramo picture. “The Claws of Greed,” and after pestering my friend Cobb [C. Lang Cobb, Jr.] for two or three days I learned the identity of the budding genius. I found she was Audaine Stark [Ordean Stark], a little Southern girl, she having been born at New Iberia, La. It so happened that I was by no means the only person who noted the screen eloquence of Audaine; indeed, she is now kept busy al! the time.

Audaine, who is but nine years old, was arrayed for a formal interview when I called, for an appointment had been made over the phone. The interview, however, was not so frightfully formal, indeed Audaine felt sufficiently at ease to bounce a ball up and down while she delivered her views and recounted her experiences. As to her appearance I do not want to add any words to the pictures printed herewith.

Madame Blaché [Alice Guy] is chiefly responsible for the start of little Audaine. Audaine had been hunting Studios with her mother and had found very scant encouragement until Madame Blaché saw her. She was struck with tile beauty and the mobility of face of the applicant for screen honors, and she did not hesitate a minute. She engaged Audaine to play a part in “Moulin Rouge,” which she acted so well that Madame Blaché soon employed her again. Little Audaine’s latest appearance was in “Hearts of Oak.”

Strangely enough, this child bubbling over with infectious joyousness is almost invariably cast for sad and serious parts.

One minute after the interview, Audaine was playing in the sunshine bouncing her ball vigorously. More than ever I thought then of Tintoretto’s head of a child.

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Audine in her natural mood.

Collection: Moving Picture World, June 1914