Theda Bara
ActingAbout Theda Bara
From Wikipedia Theda Bara (born Theodosia Burr Goodman, July 29, 1885 – April 7, 1955) was an American silent film and stage actress. Bara was one of the most popular actresses of the silent era, and one of cinema's earliest sex symbols. Her femme fatale roles earned her the nickname The Vamp (short for vampire). Bara made more than 40 films between 1914 and 1926, but most are now lost because the 1937 Fox vault fire destroyed most of her films. After her marriage to Charles Brabin in 1921, she made two more feature films and retired from acting in 1926, having never appeared in a sound film. Bara died of stomach cancer in 1955 at the age of 69.
Career Statistics & Market Influence
Analyzing the cinematic journey of Theda Bara 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 Theda Bara'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 6% Success Ratio (movies rated above 6.5), Theda Bara remains a reliable draw for studios. Their peak performance was recorded in Fragments: Surviving Pieces of Lost Films, which continues to be the benchmark for their career rating-wise.
Best Theda Bara Movies Ranked
Must-watch hits from Theda Bara's career based on audience ratings.
Complete Filmography & Success Status
Tracking the career evolution and box office verdicts of Theda Bara.
| Year | Movie | Character | Success | More |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Fragments: Surviving Pieces of Lost Films | Herself (archive footage) | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 2007 | Why Be Good?: Sexuality & Censorship in Early Cinema | Self (archive footage) | Flop | Similar → |
| 2006 | The Woman with the Hungry Eyes | Archival Footage | Average | Similar → |
| 1965 | The Love Goddesses | (Archive Footage) | Average | Similar → |
| 1939 | The Movies March On | Self - From 'A Fool There Was' (archive footage) | Flop | Similar → |
| 1933 | The Film Parade | (archive footage) (uncredited) | Flop | Similar → |
| 1931 | Stars of Yesterday | Self | Flop | Similar → |
| 1926 | 45 Minutes from Hollywood | Herself | Flop | Similar → |
| 1926 | Madame Mystery | Madame Mysterieux | Average | Similar → |
| 1925 | The Unchastened Woman | Caroline Knollys | Flop | Similar → |
| 1919 | Lure of Ambition | Olga Dolan | Flop | Similar → |
| 1919 | La belle Russe | Fleurette Sackton / La Belle Russe | Flop | Similar → |
| 1919 | Kathleen Mavourneen | Kathleen Mavourneen | Flop | Similar → |
| 1919 | A Woman There Was | Princess Zara | Flop | Similar → |
| 1919 | The Siren's Song | Marie Bernais | Flop | Similar → |
| 1919 | When Men Desire | Marie Lohr | Flop | Similar → |
| 1919 | The Light | Blanchette Dumond, aka Madame Lefresne | Flop | Similar → |
| 1918 | The She Devil | Lolette | Flop | Similar → |
| 1918 | When a Woman Sins | Lilian Marchard / Poppea | Flop | Similar → |
| 1918 | Salome | Salome | Hit | Similar → |
| 1918 | Under the Yoke | Maria Valverda | Flop | Similar → |
| 1918 | The Soul of Buddha | Bava | Flop | Similar → |
| 1918 | The Forbidden Path | Mary Lynde | Flop | Similar → |
| 1917 | Madame du Barry | Madame du Barry | Hit | Similar → |
| 1917 | The Rose Of Blood | Lisza Tapenka | Flop | Similar → |
| 1917 | Cleopatra | Cleopatra | Flop | Similar → |
| 1917 | Camille | Marguerite Gautier | Flop | Similar → |
| 1917 | Heart and Soul | Jess | Flop | Similar → |
| 1917 | Her Greatest Love | Vera Herbert | Flop | Similar → |
| 1917 | The Tiger Woman | Princess Petrovitch | Flop | Similar → |
| 1917 | The Darling of Paris | Esmeralda | Flop | Similar → |
| 1916 | The Vixen | Elsie Drummond | Flop | Similar → |
| 1916 | Romeo and Juliet | Juliet | Flop | Similar → |
| 1916 | Her Double Life | Mary Doone | Flop | Similar → |
| 1916 | Under Two Flags | Cigarette | Flop | Similar → |
| 1916 | East Lynne | Lady Isabel Carlisle | Flop | Similar → |
| 1916 | The Eternal Sapho | Laura Bruffins | Flop | Similar → |
| 1916 | Gold and the Woman | Juliet DeCordova | Flop | Similar → |
| 1916 | The Serpent | Vania Lazar | Flop | Similar → |
| 1915 | Destruction | Ferdinande Martin | Flop | Similar → |
| 1915 | The Galley Slave | Francesca Brabaut | Flop | Similar → |
| 1915 | Carmen | Carmen | Average | Similar → |
| 1915 | Sin | Rosa | Flop | Similar → |
| 1915 | The Two Orphans | Henriette | Flop | Similar → |
| 1915 | Lady Audley's Secret | Helen Talboys | Flop | Similar → |
| 1915 | The Devil's Daughter | La Gioconda | Flop | Similar → |
| 1915 | The Clemenceau Case | Iza | Flop | Similar → |
| 1915 | Kreutzer Sonata | Celia Friedlander | Flop | Similar → |
| 1915 | A Fool There Was | The Vampire | Flop | Similar → |
| 1914 | The Stain | Gang Moll (as Theodosia Goodman) | Flop | Similar → |
Theda Bara - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best movie of Theda Bara?
According to audience ratings, the best movie starring Theda Bara is "Fragments: Surviving Pieces of Lost Films" with a rating of 9.0/10.
How many movies has Theda Bara acted in?
Theda Bara has been featured in at least 50 major films throughout their career.
What are some other popular movies by Theda Bara?
Other notable films include "Salome", "Madame du Barry", and "The Love Goddesses".