Helen Gardner

Helen Louise Gardner (September 2, 1884 – November 20, 1968) was an American stage and film actress, screenwriter, film producer and costume designer. She was the first film actor to form her own production company. Her productions were primarily feature-length films, making her one of the earliest adopters of the feature film. Gardner's work was distinct for frequently centering female characters. Gardner is also considered one of the screen's first vamps.

Career Gardner was born to a wealthy family in Binghamton, New York. She spent much of her youth in European boarding schools, taking an interest in performance and often participating in private theatricals. Gardner continued pursuing theater while attending the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. After graduating, she studied under Broadway actress and playwright Maude Fulton. In 1910 she became a Vitagraph Studios player. Her breakthrough role came in 1911, when she portrayed Becky Sharp in the film version of the novel Vanity Fair. Gardner received widespread critical acclaim for her performance.

The Helen Gardner Picture Players In 1912, following her success with Vitagraph Studios, Gardner formed her own production company: The Helen Gardner Picture Players. The company was established in Tappan, New York with capital provided by Gardner's mother. It was the first film production company to be owned by an individual actor. Her sensual, commanding portrayal of female characters was entirely new at the time, leading to her classification as the screen's first vamp, predating Theda Bara, Valeska Suratt and Louise Glaum.

Personal life Before Gardner embarked on an acting career, she married socially prominent businessman Duncan Clarkson Pell Sr., on October 16, 1902, in West Haven, Connecticut. The marriage took place shortly after Gardner's 18th birthday and one week after Pell's divorce from his first wife, Anna. Duncan and Anna Pell's divorce was covered in the gossip columns of The New York Times. Gardner left Pell in 1906 to continue her acting career but they never divorced. They remained married until Pell's death in 1964.

Some sources state that Gardner married for a second time to Charles Gaskill, the director of many of her films. Gardner's granddaughter and biographer, Dorin Gardner Schumacher, states that this is incorrect and that Gardner never divorced Duncan C. Pell Sr.

Later years and death In the 1950s, Gardner returned to Orlando, Florida where she had previously lived with her estranged husband. Gardner died in Orlando on November 20, 1968, at the age of 84.

Selected filmography + Short subject Year Title Role Notes 1910 How She Won Him Muriel Hanson 1911 A Tale of Two Cities Uncredited 1911 The Inherited Taint The nurse 1911 The Wooing of Winifred Winifred 1911 The Show Girl Audrey, an actress 1911 For Her Brother's Sake Bessie Black - the Sister 1911 Barriers Burned Away John's wife 1911 A Quaker Mother Lois Pearson Harmon - A Quaker Wife 1911 She Came, She Saw, She Conquered Rose Leigh - a Young Schoolteacher 1911 The Death of King Edward III Alice Ferrers 1911 For Love and Glory Rose Seaton 1911 By Woman's Wit The wife 1911 Ups and Downs The Young Wife 1911 Regeneration Elfie - Ross' sweetheart 1911 Madge of the Mountains Madge of the Mountains 1911 Arbutus The Mountain Woman 1911 The Girl and the Sheriff The Mountain Girl 1911 Freshet Meg Matthews 1911 Vanity Fair Becky Sharp 1911 A Reformed Santa Claus The Widow 1912 Where the Money Went Mrs. Fred Hart - the Jealous Wife 1912 She Came, She Saw, She Conquered Rose Leigh - a Young Schoolteacher 1912 A Problem in Reduction Mrs. Smartly - a Woman Who Wants to Reduce 1912 Her Boy Sue - Harry's Sweetheart 1912 The Love of John Ruskin The wife 1912 The Love of John Ruskin Mrs. John Ruskin 1912 The Old Silver Watch Credited as Miss Gardner 1912 The Illumination Sabina 1912 The Serpents Linda 1912 An Innocent Theft Malcolm's mother 1912 Yellow Bird Song Bird, a Young Indian 1912 The Miracle Abbasah, the Caliph's Wife 1912 The Heart of Esmeralda Louise Lennox - a Novelist 1912 The Party Dress Lydia Borne 1913 Becky, Becky Becky Writer 1913 Alixe; or, The Test of Friendship Alixe 1913 Eureka! The Castaway 1913 Vampire of the Desert Lispeth, Vampire of the Desert 1913 The Wife of Cain Save - the Wife of Cain Producer 1913 A Daughter of Pan Dusa - a Daughter of Pan Producer 1914 The Girl with the Hole in Her Stocking Producer 1914 Fleur de Lys Producer 1914 And There Was Light Producer 1914 Butterfly Nancy North - the Butterfly 1914 Underneath the Paint Tryphena Winter 1914 The Strange Story of Sylvia Gray Sylvia Gray/Silvery Gray 1915 The Breath of Araby Clothilde 1915 The Still, Small Voice Musa 1915 Snatched from a Burning Death Joan Le Grande 1915 Miss Jekyll and Madame Hyde Madeleine Jekyll/Madame Hyde

+ Features Year Title Role Notes 1912 Cleopatra Cleopatra - Queen of Egypt Producer, costume designer, editor (uncredited)Credited as Miss Gardner 1913 A Sister to Carmen Margo Producer 1913 A Princess of Bagdad Princess Ojira Producer 1914 Pieces of Silver: A Story of Hearts and Souls Sister Berenice Producer 1914 The Strange Story of Sylvia Gray Sylvia Gray/Silvery 1914 The Moonshine Maid and the Man Nancy - the Moonshine Maid 1920 The Sleep of Cyma Roget Cyma Roget 1924 Sandra La Flamme's wife