Fay Bainter - Actor Profile

Fay Bainter

Acting
Freshness: Jan 19, 2026
45Total Films
8.0 Highest Rated
Born: Dec 7, 1893
Birth Place: Los Angeles, California, USA

About Fay Bainter

Fay Okell Bainter (December 7, 1893 – April 16, 1968) was an American film and stage actress. She won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for Jezebel (1938) and has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. MGM persuaded her to try films and her movie debut was in This Side of Heaven (February 1934), the same year she appeared in Dodsworth on Broadway and in the film It Happened One Day (July 1934). Bainter quickly achieved success, and in 1938 she became the first performer nominated in the same year for both the Academy Award for Best Actress, for White Banners (1938), and the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, for Jezebel (1938), winning for the latter. Since then, only nine other actors have won dual nominations in a single year. In 1940 she played Mrs. Gibbs in the film production of the Thornton Wilder play Our Town. In 1945 she played Melissa Frake in the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical State Fair. She was again nominated for Best Supporting Actress for her role in The Children's Hour (1961). Finally, in 1962, Fay appeared as a guest star on The Donna Reed Show. She has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 7021 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood. Description above from the Wikipedia article Fay Bainter, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia

Career Statistics & Market Influence

Analyzing the cinematic journey of Fay Bainter reveals a career defined by diverse artistic exploration. With a total of 45 major appearances, the actor has established a significant footprint in global cinema.

Genre Dominance: Drama

The majority of Fay Bainter'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 42% Success Ratio (movies rated above 6.5), Fay Bainter remains a reliable draw for studios. Their peak performance was recorded in The Making of a Legend: Gone with the Wind, which continues to be the benchmark for their career rating-wise.

Best Fay Bainter Movies Ranked

Must-watch hits from Fay Bainter's career based on audience ratings.

Complete Filmography & Success Status

Tracking the career evolution and box office verdicts of Fay Bainter.

YearMovieCharacterSuccessMore
1988 The Making of a Legend: Gone with the Wind Self (archive footage) Super Hit Similar →
1983 Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage Self (archive footage) (uncredited) Hit Similar →
1961 The Children's Hour Amelia Tilford Super Hit Similar →
1953 The President's Lady Mrs. Donaldson Hit Similar →
1951 Close to My Heart Mrs. Morrow Hit Similar →
1948 June Bride Paula Winthrop Hit Similar →
1948 Give My Regards to Broadway Fay Norwick Hit Similar →
1947 The Secret Life of Walter Mitty Eunice Mitty Hit Similar →
1947 Deep Valley Ellie Saul Average Similar →
1946 The Virginian Mrs. Taylor Average Similar →
1946 The Kid from Brooklyn Mrs. E. Winthrop LeMoyne Average Similar →
1945 State Fair Melissa Frake Hit Similar →
1944 3 Is a Family Frances Whittaker Flop Similar →
1944 Dark Waters Aunt Emily Average Similar →
1944 The Heavenly Body Margaret Sibyll Flop Similar →
1943 Cry 'Havoc' Captain Marsh Average Similar →
1943 Salute to the Marines Jennie Bailey Hit Similar →
1943 Presenting Lily Mars Mrs. Thornway Average Similar →
1943 The Human Comedy Mrs. Macauley Average Similar →
1942 Journey for Margaret Trudy Strauss Average Similar →
1942 Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch Mrs. Elvira Wiggs Flop Similar →
1942 The War Against Mrs. Hadley Stella Livingston Hadley Flop Similar →
1942 Mr. Gardenia Jones Emmy Jones Flop Similar →
1942 Woman of the Year Ellen Whitcomb Hit Similar →
1941 Babes on Broadway Miss Jones Hit Similar →
1940 Cavalcade of the Academy Awards Self Hit Similar →
1940 Maryland Charlotte Danfield Average Similar →
1940 A Bill of Divorcement Margaret "Meg" Fairfield Hit Similar →
1940 Our Town Mrs Gibbs Average Similar →
1940 Young Tom Edison Mrs. Samuel 'Nancy' Edison Average Similar →
1939 Our Neighbors - The Carters Ellen Carter Flop Similar →
1939 Screen Snapshots Series 19, No. 1 Self Average Similar →
1939 Daughters Courageous Nancy 'Nan' Masters Average Similar →
1939 The Lady and the Mob Hattie Leonard Average Similar →
1939 Yes, My Darling Daughter Ann Murray Flop Similar →
1938 Breakdowns of 1938 Hannah Parmalee (archive footage) (uncredited) Flop Similar →
1938 The Shining Hour Hannah Linden Hit Similar →
1938 The Arkansas Traveler Mrs. Martha Allen Average Similar →
1938 Mother Carey's Chickens Mrs. Margaret Carey Flop Similar →
1938 White Banners Hannah Average Similar →
1938 Jezebel Aunt Belle Massey Hit Similar →
1937 Make Way for Tomorrow Anita Cooper Super Hit Similar →
1937 The Soldier and the Lady Strogoff's Mother Hit Similar →
1937 Quality Street Susan Throssel Average Similar →
1934 This Side of Heaven Francene Turner Hit Similar →

Fay Bainter - Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best movie of Fay Bainter?

According to audience ratings, the best movie starring Fay Bainter is "The Making of a Legend: Gone with the Wind" with a rating of 8.0/10.

How many movies has Fay Bainter acted in?

Fay Bainter has been featured in at least 45 major films throughout their career.

What are some other popular movies by Fay Bainter?

Other notable films include "The Children's Hour", "Make Way for Tomorrow", and "June Bride".