Mae West - Actor Profile

Mae West

Acting
Updated: Apr 11, 2026
40Total Films
10.0 Highest Rated
Born: Aug 17, 1893
Birth Place: Bushwick, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA

About Mae West

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Mae West (born Mary Jane West; August 17, 1893 – November 22, 1980) was an American actress, playwright, screenwriter and sex symbol whose entertainment career spanned seven decades. Known for her bawdy double entendres, West made a name for herself in vaudeville and on the stage in New York before moving to Hollywood to become a comedienne, actress and writer in the motion picture industry. In consideration of her contributions to American cinema, the American Film Institute named West 15th among the greatest female stars of all time. One of the more controversial movie stars of her day, West encountered many problems including censorship. When her cinematic career ended, she continued to perform on stage, in Las Vegas, in the United Kingdom, on radio and television, and recorded rock and roll albums. She used the alias Jane Mast early in her career. Description above from the Wikipedia article Mae West, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

Mae West Movies & Career Overview

The filmography of Mae West reflects a career marked by diverse experimentation. Across 40 major appearances, the actor has built a reputation through performances in multiple genres and storytelling styles.

Dominant Genre

A large portion of Mae West's work falls within the Documentary genre, where audiences tend to respond most strongly to their on-screen presence.

Success Ratio

Approximately 30% of Mae West'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 Going Hollywood: The '30s, which stands out as a key performance.

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Best Mae West Movies Ranked

Must-watch hits from Mae West's career based on audience ratings.

Full Filmography

Every movie Mae West has appeared in, with audience ratings and verdicts.

YearMovieCharacterSuccessMore
2022 Becoming Marilyn - Super Hit Similar →
2020 Mae West: Dirty Blonde Self (archive footage) Hit Similar →
2017 Becoming Cary Grant Self (archive footage) Hit Similar →
2016 The Women Who Run Hollywood Self (archive footage) Hit Similar →
2009 Hollywood Singing and Dancing: A Musical History - The 1930s: Dancing Away the Great Depression Self (archive footage) Flop Similar →
2008 Thou Shalt Not: Sex, Sin and Censorship in Pre-Code Hollywood Tira (archive footage) Average Similar →
2007 Why Be Good?: Sexuality & Censorship in Early Cinema Self (archive footage) Flop Similar →
2003 Complicated Women Self (archive footage) Hit Similar →
2002 Cleavage - Average Similar →
1995 Trailer Camp (Archival) Flop Similar →
1995 The Casting Couch - Super Hit Similar →
1995 Betty Boop: Queen of the Cartoons Self (archive footage) Super Hit Similar →
1994 Mae West and the Men Who Knew Her Self (archive footage) Flop Similar →
1993 Homo Promo (Archival) Flop Similar →
1990 Anthony Quinn: An Original Self (archive footage) Hit Similar →
1988 Cary Grant: A Celebration of a Leading Man Self (archive footage) Hit Similar →
1987 Hollywood Uncensored Self (archive footage) Flop Similar →
1984 Going Hollywood: The '30s Self (archive footage) Super Hit Similar →
1983 Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage Self (archive footage) (uncredited) Hit Similar →
1978 Sextette Marlo Manners Flop Similar →
1976 Hooray for Hollywood Self (archive footage) Flop Similar →
1975 Brother, Can You Spare a Dime? Self (archive footage) Average Similar →
1970 Hollywood Blue (archive footage) Flop Similar →
1970 Myra Breckinridge Leticia Van Allen Flop Similar →
N/A Homo Promo (Archival) Flop Similar →
1968 The Best of Laurel and Hardy (archive footage) Hit Similar →
1957 The Strange Case of the Cosmic Rays Miss Ultraviolet (voice, archive footage) Flop Similar →
1943 The Heat's On Fay Lawrence Flop Similar →
1940 My Little Chickadee Flower Belle Lee Average Similar →
1937 Every Day's a Holiday Peaches O'Day Average Similar →
1936 Go West Young Man Mavis Arden Flop Similar →
1936 Klondike Annie Rose Carlton / Annie Alden Average Similar →
1935 The Fashion Side of Hollywood Self Average Similar →
1935 Goin' to Town Cleo Borden Flop Similar →
1934 Belle of the Nineties Ruby Carter Average Similar →
1934 Hollywood on Parade No. B-10 Self Flop Similar →
1933 Hollywood on Parade No. B-5 Self (archive footage) (uncredited) Flop Similar →
1933 I'm No Angel Tira Average Similar →
1933 She Done Him Wrong Lady Lou Average Similar →
1932 Night After Night Maudie Triplett Average Similar →

Mae West - Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best movie of Mae West?

According to audience ratings, the best movie starring Mae West is "Going Hollywood: The '30s" with a rating of 10.0/10.

How many movies has Mae West acted in?

Mae West has been featured in at least 40 major films throughout their career.

What are some other popular movies by Mae West?

Other notable films include "The Casting Couch", "Betty Boop: Queen of the Cartoons", and "Becoming Marilyn".

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