Anita Page American actress, one of the main stars of the late silent film era Date of Birth: 04.08.1910 Country: USA

Anita Page: Biography of a Legendary Actress

Anita Page was an American actress and one of the leading stars of the end of the silent film era. Born in Flushing, Queens, she was known for her blonde hair, blue eyes, and being hailed as the girl with the most beautiful face in all of Hollywood. Her parents, Helen and John Pomerantz, supported her acting aspirations, with her mother becoming her secretary and her father working as her chauffeur.

Page's entry into the film industry came through her friend, actress Betty Bronson. A picture of Page caught the attention of someone who handled fan mail for Bronson, and also worked as a talent scout. With her mother's encouragement, Page reached out to an agent who arranged a meeting with the casting director of Paramount Studios. She also auditioned for MGM and ended up signing a contract with the latter.

Her debut film was the comedy-drama "Telling the World" with William Haines. She then gained popularity with films like "Our Dancing Daughters" alongside Joan Crawford and "Broadway Melody" with Bessie Love, which helped her transition smoothly into the era of talkies. Page became one of the leading actresses of her time, starring alongside Lon Chaney, Buster Keaton, Robert Montgomery, and Clark Gable. She was even romantically involved with Gable for a brief period.

At the height of her popularity, Page received more fan mail than any other MGM actress, except for the legendary Greta Garbo. She also received numerous marriage proposals, including one from Benito Mussolini. However, in 1933, to the surprise of her fans, she announced her retirement from acting at the age of 23.

In 1936, she made another film appearance in "Hitch Hike to Heaven" before disappearing from the screen for almost sixty years. In 2004, she made a comeback, appearing in low-budget horror films alongside another cinema legend, Margaret O'Brien. During the filming, Page lived with her co-star and eventually director, Randall Malone.

Page was proud to be one of the last stars of the silent film era and gladly participated in interviews and documentaries about that time. Despite her declining health in her later years, she always took the time to respond meticulously to fan letters. She passed away in her sleep on September 6, 2008, in Van Nuys, Los Angeles, California, at the age of 98. She was buried at Holy Cross Cemetery in San Diego and was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for her contribution to the film industry.