Theda Bara

American actress (1885-1955)

Theda Bara was a popular silent film actress and one of cinema’s early sex symbols, known for her femme fatale roles as a “vamp.” She was born in Cincinnati to a Jewish family and became a big star at Fox Studios, who promoted her as an Egyptian-born woman interested in the occult. Bara made over 40 films, most of which are now lost, and retired from acting in 1926 after her marriage to Charles Brabin.

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About the Theda Bara

Theda Barawas an American silent film and stage actress. Bara was one of the more popular actresses of the silent era and one of cinema’s early sex symbols. Her femme fatale roles earned her the nickname “The Vamp” (short for vampire, here meaning a seductive woman), later fueling the rising popularity in “vamp” roles based in exoticism and sexual domination.

Born to a Jewish family in Cincinnati, Bara was the biggest star of Fox Studios, who prompted a fictitious persona for her as an Egyptian-born woman interested in the occult. She made more than 40 films between 1914 and 1926, most of which were lost in the 1937 Fox vault fire. She left Fox in 1919 and was unable to recapture her previous success. After her marriage to Charles Brabin in 1921, she made two more films and then retired from acting in 1926. Bara never appeared in any sound films.

Frequently Asked Questions

Theda Bara was an American silent film and stage actress who was one of the more popular actresses of the silent era and one of cinema’s early sex symbols.

Theda Bara’s real name was Theodosia Burr Goodman.

Theda Bara was nicknamed ,The Vamp, (short for vampire) due to her femme fatale roles, which were based in exoticism and sexual domination.

Theda Bara made more than 40 films between 1914 and 1926, most of which are now lost due to a fire at the Fox vault in 1937.

After leaving Fox Studios in 1919, Theda Bara was unable to recapture her previous success and made only two more films before retiring from acting in 1926.

Theda Bara got married to Charles Brabin in 1921, after which she made two more films and then retired from acting in 1926.

No, Theda Bara never appeared in a sound film, as she retired from acting in 1926, before the advent of talkies.