Glamorous actresses of the 1920s: A new age of cinema celebrities
At the center of this shift were the leading ladies of silent film. Actresses like Clara Bow, Louise Brooks and Gloria Swanson defined an era. Clara Bow became the ultimate flapper, embodying the spirit of the Roaring Twenties. Louise Brooks, with her sleek bob and effortless cool, became a fashion icon. Gloria Swanson, already a major star in the silent era, transitioned into talkies and maintained her status as a Hollywood powerhouse.
The 1920s also saw the rise of international stars who brought a touch of European glamour to Hollywood. Greta Garbo, with her enigmatic presence, captivated audiences and set a new standard for on-screen drama. Pola Negri, a Polish actress, brought intensity and sophistication to her roles. Meanwhile, Mary Pickford, one of the decade’s most beloved actresses, wasn’t just a movie star — she was a film industry pioneer, co-founding United Artists and shaping the future of Hollywood.
By 1926, the film industry had become a major force, with Photoplay magazine noting, “millions of miles of film have flowed out of the camera since then, and Hollywood has been created and many, many millions of dollars.” The actresses of the 1920s who starred in these movies were at the forefront of a cultural revolution that transformed how people consumed media and idolized celebrities.
To capture the magic of this era, we’ve gathered a collection of stunning photos of these unforgettable women. These images showcase the beauty, elegance and talent that made them icons — and continue to inspire film lovers today.
ALSO SEE: 20 vintage dresses from the Roaring Twenties that would fit right into the Great Gatsby
Alice Terry (1923)
Patsy Ruth Miller (1923)
Pauline Garon (1923)
Billie Dove (1925)
Dorothy Seastrom (1925)
Eleanor Boardman (1925)
Lois Wilson (1925)
Mae Busch (1925)
Mary Brian (1925)
May Allison (1925)
Norma Talmadge (1925)
Pauline Starke (1925)
Ruth Wilcox (1925)
Sally Rand (1925)
Shirley Mason (1925)
Virgina Valli (1925)
ALSO SEE: 20 vintage dresses from the Roaring Twenties that would fit right into the Great Gatsby
Blanche Sweet (1925)
Marion Davies (1925)
Fay Wray (1926)
Helene Chadwick (1926)
Janet Gaynor (1926)
Mary Brian (1926)
Olive Borden (1926)
Phyllis Haver (1926)
Seena Owen (1926)
Louise Brooks (1927)
Aileen Pringle (1927)
Alice Joyce (1927)
Anna Q. Nilsson (1927)
Claire Windsor (1927)
Clara Bow (1927)
Claudette Colbert (1927)
Colleen Moore (1927)
Dolores Costello (1927)
Dolores Del Rio (1927)
Dorothey Dwan (1927)
Dorothy Sebastian (1927)
Eleanor Boardman (1927)
Esther Ralston (1927)
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Evelyn Brent (1927)
Fay Wray (1927)
Gilda Gray (1927)
Gloria Swanson (1927)
Greta Nissen (1927)
Janet Gaynor (1927)
Joan Crawford (1927)
Lillian Gish (1927)
Lois Moran (1927)
MMORE: Vintage 1920s dresses & flapper clothes: Fashionable fabrics, lengths, necklines & more
Marcelline Day (1927)
Marian Nixon (1927)
Nancy Phillips (1927)
Natalie Barrache — Natli Barr(1927)
Olive Borden (1927)
Renee Adoree (1927)
Sadie Thompson (1927)
Jetta Goudal (1927)
Greta Garbo (1928)
MORE: About Greta Garbo: The legendary actress and 20th century icon
Jacqueline Logan (1928)
Josephine Borio (1928)
June Collyer (1928)
Laura La Plante (1928)
Lupe Velez (1928)
Marie Prevost (1928)
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Marion Nixon (1928)
Mary Pickford (1928)
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May McAvoy (1928)
Myrna Loy (1928)
Bebe Daniels (1928)
Sue Carol (1928)
Virgina Bradford (1928)
Yola D’Avril (1928)
Alice White (1929)
Jeanette Loff (1929)
Leila Hyams (1929)
Madge Bellamy (1929)
Stunning starlets on the silver screen
Below, take a look back with a photo gallery featuring some of the top female moving picture actresses of the Roaring Twenties by way of the portraits were published in Photoplay, one of the most popular fan magazines of the day.
The pictures include many of the talented women who were on their way to becoming icons of the age — such as Marlene Dietrich, Greta Garbo, Mary Pickford, Norma Talmadge, Gloria Swanson, Claudette Colbert, Norma Shearer, Fay Wray, Lillian Gish, Myrna Loy, Clara Bow, and the one and only Joan Crawford.
There are also those whose names may not be familiar, but whose looks — the fashion, hair and makeup — beautifully represent this bygone era. Some of those actresses include Louise Brooks, Betty Bronson, Dorothy Sebastian, Olive Borden, Dolores Del Rio, Sue Carol, Gilda Gray, Colleen Moore, Lupe Velez, Greta Nissen, Phyllis Haver, Anna May Wong, Evelyn Brent, Janet Gaynor, Jacqueline Logan, Billie Dove, Shirley Mason, Eleanor Boardman, Ruth Wilcox, Mary Allison, Sally Rand, Mary Brian and Claire Windsor.
Love this kind of stuff? For more twenties style, check out our books!
3 Responses
No wonder they call him the roaring 20s… I’d take them over anybody today.
Every era has something to offer. For some reason the 20’s invokes pictures in the mind of wild women dancing. The mob. Freedom for women. Makeup. Yes some of it was toxic. My own grand mother had lipstick that had lead in it. And I to used that lipstick before I knew it was bad. But I am beginning to think that all makeup is not good. Baby powder I have used since I was a baby. I still use it. All powder has talcum in it. So what are you suppose to put on your face if you can’t use powder to set it? But I think the roaring 20’s brings back free expression. Women were more free then then they are now. The actresses in the photos are very glamorous and unique. Most were very successful. Too bad starlets today don’t have even a touch of their class or acting ability. Some today are good but not great. Times change and I think they ought to send all actresses back to charm school. Most are tacky now. Too bad! That goes for the male actors too. Simply put. They need to know how to act to be someone. Where are all the stars? Kardashians are celebrities but they are not stars. Old Hollywood needs to be kept locked up and saved. There will never be another place like this. Debi l.
Extraordinary women