12. Which silent film legend won the 1929 Best Actress Oscar for her first 'talkie', "Coquette", in one of her last roles before she retired from filmmaking?
From Quiz TV and Film Spanning the Atlantic 3
Answer:
Mary Pickford
Born Gladys Louise Smith in Toronto, Canada in 1892, Mary Pickford was nicknamed "America's Sweetheart" and "Little Mary". She made her screen debut in a series of more than forty 1909 silent shorts by legendary director D.W. Griffith. By 1912, she had already made more than 150 films.
In addition to being one of the world's most recognizable actresses, Pickford was also a pioneer within the movie industry. In 1919, she joined forces with Griffith, Charlie Chaplin and Douglas Fairbanks to found United Artists. In 1927, she was one of the 36 people who combined to found the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. The following year, Janet Gaynor was the recipient of the first Best Actress Oscar. Pickford collected the second award, in 1929, for her performance in her first 'talkie'.
Pickford retired from acting in 1933. In 1976, the Academy presented the 84-year old Pickford with an honorary award in recognition of her "contribution to cinema". Pickford died aged 87 in 1979.