Madame Sul-Te-Wan
ActingAbout Madame Sul-Te-Wan
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Madame Sul-Te-Wan (born Nellie Crawford; March 7, 1873 – February 1, 1959) was the first African-American actress to sign a film contract and be a featured performer. She was an American stage, film and television actress for over 50 years. The daughter of former slaves, she began her career in entertainment touring the East Coast with various theatrical companies and moved to California to become a member of the fledgling film community. She became known as a character actress, appeared in high-profile films such as The Birth of a Nation (1915) and Intolerance (1916), and easily navigated the transition to the sound films. In 1986, she was inducted into the Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame.
Career Statistics & Market Influence
Analyzing the cinematic journey of Madame Sul-Te-Wan reveals a career defined by diverse artistic exploration. With a total of 50 major appearances, the actor has established a significant footprint in global cinema.
Genre Dominance: Drama
The majority of Madame Sul-Te-Wan's filmography leans towards the Drama genre. Audience data suggests that viewers respond most favorably to this persona, though their versatility has allowed for successful crossovers into other categories.
The "Box Office" Signature
With a 30% Success Ratio (movies rated above 6.5), Madame Sul-Te-Wan remains a reliable draw for studios. Their peak performance was recorded in King Kong, which continues to be the benchmark for their career rating-wise.
Best Madame Sul-Te-Wan Movies Ranked
Must-watch hits from Madame Sul-Te-Wan's career based on audience ratings.
Complete Filmography & Success Status
Tracking the career evolution and box office verdicts of Madame Sul-Te-Wan.
| Year | Movie | Character | Success | More |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1958 | The Buccaneer | Good Luck Charm Vendor | Average | Similar → |
| 1958 | Tarzan and the Trappers | Witch Woman | Flop | Similar → |
| 1957 | Band of Angels | Flower Vendor (Uncredited) | Average | Similar → |
| 1957 | Something of Value | Midwife (Uncredited) | Flop | Similar → |
| 1954 | Carmen Jones | Hagar – Carmen's Grandmother (Uncredited) | Average | Similar → |
| 1949 | The Story of Seabiscuit | Libby | Average | Similar → |
| 1949 | Mighty Joe Young | Young Family Servant (Uncredited) | Average | Similar → |
| 1943 | Thank Your Lucky Stars | Bit in "Ice Cold Katie" Number (uncredited) | Average | Similar → |
| 1943 | Revenge of the Zombies | Beulah | Flop | Similar → |
| 1942 | Mokey | Miss Cully (uncredited) | Flop | Similar → |
| 1941 | Sullivan's Travels | Church Harmonium Player (Uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1941 | King of the Zombies | Tahama | Flop | Similar → |
| 1940 | Love Thy Neighbor | Lady McBeth | Hit | Similar → |
| 1940 | Maryland | Naomi | Average | Similar → |
| 1940 | Safari | Native Woman | Flop | Similar → |
| 1939 | Torchy Blane... Playing with Dynamite | Ruby (uncredited) | Average | Similar → |
| 1939 | Tell No Tales | Jim Alley's Mother (uncredited) | Flop | Similar → |
| 1938 | Kentucky | Lily | Average | Similar → |
| 1938 | The Affairs of Annabel | Benzedrina (uncredited) | Flop | Similar → |
| 1938 | The Toy Wife | Eve, a Black Servant (Uncredited) | Flop | Similar → |
| 1938 | In Old Chicago | Hattie | Hit | Similar → |
| 1938 | Island in the Sky | Scrubwoman (Uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1937 | Maid of Salem | Tituba | Average | Similar → |
| 1936 | San Francisco | Earthquake Survivor (Uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1935 | So Red the Rose | Slave (Uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1934 | Imitation of Life | Cook (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1934 | Black Moon | Ruva | Flop | Similar → |
| 1934 | Operator 13 | Slave at Medicine Show ( Uncredited) | Average | Similar → |
| 1934 | A Modern Hero | Mme. Azais' Neighbor ( Uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1933 | King Kong | Native Handmaiden (uncredited) | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1933 | Ladies They Talk About | Mustard (uncredited) | Average | Similar → |
| 1932 | Queen Kelly | Kali Sana - Aunt's Cook (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1931 | Heaven on Earth | Voodoo Sue | Flop | Similar → |
| 1931 | The Pagan Lady | Carla the Servant | Flop | Similar → |
| 1930 | The Thoroughbred | Sacharine | Flop | Similar → |
| 1930 | Sarah and Son | Belloc's Maid (Uncredited) | Flop | Similar → |
| 1929 | Thunderbolt | Bit Role | Average | Similar → |
| 1927 | Uncle Tom's Cabin | Slave at Wedding (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1927 | College | Cook (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1925 | The Golden Bed | Boarding House Maid (Uncredited) | Flop | Similar → |
| 1925 | The Narrow Street | Easter | Flop | Similar → |
| 1922 | Manslaughter | Prison Inmate (uncredited) | Flop | Similar → |
| 1922 | The Show | Maid (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1920 | Why Change Your Wife? | Sally's Maid (Uncredited) | Average | Similar → |
| 1919 | His Musical Sneeze | Maid (uncredited) | Flop | Similar → |
| 1918 | Old Wives for New | Viola's Maid (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1918 | Tarzan of the Apes | Esmeralda - Jane's Maid (uncredited) | Flop | Similar → |
| 1916 | Intolerance: Love's Struggle Throughout the Ages | Girl at the Marriage Market (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1916 | Hoodoo Ann | Black Cindy | Average | Similar → |
| 1915 | The Birth of a Nation | Black Woman (uncredited) | Average | Similar → |
Madame Sul-Te-Wan - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best movie of Madame Sul-Te-Wan?
According to audience ratings, the best movie starring Madame Sul-Te-Wan is "King Kong" with a rating of 7.6/10.
How many movies has Madame Sul-Te-Wan acted in?
Madame Sul-Te-Wan has been featured in at least 50 major films throughout their career.
What are some other popular movies by Madame Sul-Te-Wan?
Other notable films include "Sullivan's Travels", "Intolerance: Love's Struggle Throughout the Ages", and "Island in the Sky".