Madge Evans

Madge Evans, the quintessential "nice girl" of the 1930s film landscape, began her career at a remarkably young age. Entering the spotlight at just two years old, she starred in Fairy Soap commercials, famously sitting atop a bar of soap with violets, promoting the tagline, "Have you a little fairy in your home?" Known as "Baby Madge," she also lent her name to a line of children's hats. By five, she caught the attention of talent scouts, landing a role in the 1914 film The Sign of the Cross, followed by The Seven Sisters in 1915 alongside Marguerite Clark.

By the end of 1916, Madge had accumulated around twenty film credits, working with prominent stars like Pauline Frederick and Alice Brady at East Coast studios in Fort Lee, New Jersey. In 1917, she made her Broadway debut in 'Peter Ibbetson' alongside John and Lionel Barrymore. She returned to the stage in 1926 with 'Daisy Mayme' and joined Billie Burke in Noel Coward's 'The Marquise' the next year.

Drawn to Hollywood, Madge signed with MGM in 1931, where she shone in several notable productions, including as Lionel Barrymore's daughter in Dinner at Eight (1933) and as Agnes Wickfield in David Copperfield (1935). She starred alongside James Cagney in The Mayor of Hell (1933), and received acclaim for her role in Beauty for Sale (1933). Despite her talents, Madge often found herself typecast as the all-American girl, limiting her dramatic range. After her MGM contract ended in 1937, she transitioned to a quieter life following her marriage to playwright Sidney Kingsley in 1939, making her final stage appearance in his play The Patriots in 1943.