Edna Purviance(1895-1958)

Edna Purviance began working as a stenographer in San Francisco. Charles Chaplin invited her to join him at Essanay Studio in 1915, the year of her film debut in Chaplin's His Night Out. Over the next seven years she appeared as his leading lady in over 20 Chaplin films made by Essanay, Mutual, and First National, including the classics Charlot vagabond (1915), L'émigrant (1917), Charlot policeman (1917), Le Kid (1921), and Charlot et le masque de fer (1921). As a repayment for years of work with him, Chaplin intended real stardom for her with L'opinion publique (1923). The movie was a commercial failure though it advanced the career of Adolphe Menjou. She remained on Chaplin's payroll until her death, her last two appearances being non-speaking extra parts in his Monsieur Verdoux (1947) and Les feux de la rampe (1952).

6.9

7.5

Short

8.2

Trivia
After her retirement in 1926, Charles Chaplin kept her on his payroll for decades, showing her much more concern and consideration than he did to any of his former wives.

Quotes
Mr. Chaplin [Charles Chaplin] asked me if I would like to act in pictures with him. I laughed at the idea, but agreed to try it. I guess he took me because I had nothing to unlearn and he could teach me in his own way. I want to tell you that I suffered untold agonies. Eyes seemed to be everywhere. I was simply frightened to death. But he had unlimited patience in directing me and teaching me.

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