“On the First Rung of the Ladder of Fame”: Would-Be Cinema Stars in Silent-Era Britain

The “movie-struck girl” and the anxieties that this figure generated have been well documented in relation to early Hollywood. This article explores concurrent trends in Britain during the 1910s and 1920s. It examines the local publications and practices that emerged to cater to aspiring film actors. It also shows how discussions of would-be cinema stars took part in national debates about women’s place in the labor market and the struggle to legitimize the domestic film industry.