* Niagara Falls, N.Y. 26.5. 1897 -  † 1957

The eldest of three Brooklyn sisters driven to screen stardom by a determined stage mother, she was also the first to break into movies, making her debut with Vita graph in 1910. Both she and Constance Talmadge rose to superstardom in silent films. The third sister, Natalie Talmadge (1898-1969), was more famous as the wife of Buster Keaton, although she appeared successfully in a number of silent comedies, including Keaton's OUR HOSPITALITY (1923). Norma was barely 14 when she played the leading lady in her first important film, the original screen version of A TALE OF TWO CITIES (1911). She later starred in innumerable films for Vita graph and Triangle, among other companies. But her future as a star really began shaping up after she married the influential producer Joseph Schenck, who took charge of her career in 1916. He set up the Norma Talmadge Film Corporation, releasing through First National and later through United Artists.

Norma's career reached a peak in the early 20s, when she ranked among the most popular idols of the American screen. Her specialty was the suffering heroine of tearful melodramas and as long as these kept drawing audiences to the box office she remained at the top. She separated from Schenck in 1926 and they were later divorced, but he continued to manage her career as well as that of her sister Constance. Norma, who wasn't a particularly good actress, tried bravely to make a transition to sound films, but after two disheartening attempts she retired from the screen to live off her considerable fortune. She returned to the headlines twice in the 30s, when she married and divorced entertainer George Jessel. Her third husband was a physician.

Filmografie
1910   A BROKEN SPELL     
1910   A DIXIE MOTHER     
1910   IN NEIGHBORING KINGDOMS
1910   LOVE OF CHRYSANTHEMUM
1910   UNCLE TOM'S CABIN
1911   THE CHILD CRUSOES
1911   THE GENERAL'S DAUGHTER 
1911   HER HERO     
1911   THE SKY PILOT       
1911   A TALE OF TWO CITIES     
1911   THE THUMB PRINT   
1912   CAPTAIN BARNACLE'S MESSMATE  
1912   CASEY AT THE BAT 
1912   THE FIRST VIOLIN   
1912   FORTUNES OF A COMPOSER
1912   MRS. 'ENRY 'AWKINS
1912   O'HARA—SQUATTER AND PHILOSOPHER   
1912   THE TROUBLESOME STEPDAUGHTERS      
1913   'ARRIET'S BABY       
1913   THE BLUE ROSE       
1913   THE DOCTOR'S SECRET      
1913   EXTREMITIES
1913   FANNY'S CONSPIRACY       
1913   HIS SILVER BACHELORHOOD
1913   THE MIDGET'S REVENGE     
1913   AN OLD MAN'S LOVE STORY
1913   OMENS AND ORACLES        
1913   THE OTHER WOMAN 
1913   SOLITAIRES  
1913   UNDER THE DAISIES 
1914   CUPID VERSUS MONEY       
1914   A DAUGHTER OF ISRAEL     
1914   GOODBYE SUMMER  
1914   A HELPFUL SISTERHOOD    
1914   JOHN RANCE—GENTLEMAN   1914   THE MILL OF LIFE    
1914   THE PEACEMAKER    
1914   THE SACRIFICE OF KATHLEEN       
1914   SAWDUST AND SALOME     
1914   SUNSHINE AND SHADOWS  
1915   THE BARRIER OF FAITH      
1915   THE BATTLE CRY OF PEACE/A CALL TO ARMS AGAINST WAR 
1915   CAPTIVATING MARY CARSTAIRS    
1915   THE CROWN PRINCE'S DOUBLE      
1915   A DAUGHTER'S STRANGE INHERITANCE    
1915   A PILLAR OF FLAME 
1916   THE CHILDREN IN THE HOUSE       
1916   CORRUPTION/GOING STRAIGHT     
1916   THE DEVIL'S NEEDLE
1916   FIFTY-FIFTY 
1916   THE MISSING LINK   
1916   THE SOCIAL SECRETARY    
1917   THE MOTH    
1917   PANTHEA      
1917   POPPY
1917   THE SECRET OF THE STORM COUNTRY    
1918   DE LUXE ANNIE       
1918   FORBIDDEN CITY     
1918   THE GHOST OF YESTERDAY
1918   HER ONLY WAY       
1919   THE ISLE OF CONQUEST    
1919   THE NEW MOON      
1919   THE PROBATION WIFE       
1919   THE WAY OF A WOMAN     
1920   THE BRANDED WOMAN       
1920   A DAUGHTER OF TWO WORLDS     
1920   SHE LOVES AND LIES         
1920   THE WOMAN GIVES     
1921   LOVE'S REDEMPTION
1921   THE PASSION FLOWER       
1921   THE SIGN ON THE DOOR     
1921   THE WONDERFUL THING     
1922   THE ETERNAL FLAME
1922   SMILIN' THROUGH    
1923   ASHES OF VENGEANCE       
1923   THE SONG OF LOVE 
1923   THE VOICE FROM THE MINARET    
1923   WITHIN THE LAW    
1924   THE ONLY WOMAN   
1924   SECRETS      
1925   GRAUSTARK  
1925   THE LADY     
1926   KIKI   
1927   CAMILLE        — title role
1927   THE DOVE    
1928   THE WOMAN DISPUTED      
1929   NEW YORK NIGHTS  
1930   DU BARRY, WOMAN OF PASSION    — title role