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.
Madame Sul-Te-Wan Movies & Career Overview
The filmography of Madame Sul-Te-Wan reflects a career marked by diverse experimentation. Across 50 major appearances, the actor has built a reputation through performances in multiple genres and storytelling styles.
Dominant Genre
A large portion of Madame Sul-Te-Wan's work falls within the Drama genre, where audiences tend to respond most strongly to their on-screen presence.
Success Ratio
Approximately 30% of Madame Sul-Te-Wan's films maintain ratings above 6.5, indicating a consistent level of audience approval.
One of the most highly rated entries in their career remains King Kong, which stands out as a key performance.
Best Madame Sul-Te-Wan Movies Ranked
Must-watch hits from Madame Sul-Te-Wan's career based on audience ratings.
Full Filmography
Every movie Madame Sul-Te-Wan has appeared in, with audience ratings and verdicts.
| 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 → |
| 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 | Queen Kelly | Kali Sana - Aunt's Cook (uncredited) | Hit | 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".