
Fay Bainter
ActingAbout 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.
| Year | Movie | Character | Success | More |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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".




