Título: Florence Lawrence
Seção: Biograph Studios
Background: Born Florence Annie Bridgwood in Hamilton, Ontario, she was youngest of three children of George Bridgwood, an English-born carriage builder and Charlotte "Lotta" Bridgwood (nee Dunn), a vaudeville actress. Charlotte Bridgwood had emigrated to Canada from Ireland after the Great Famine with her family as a child. She was known professionally as Lotta Lawrence and was the leading lady and director of the Lawrence Dramatic Company. At the age of three, Lawrence made her debut onstage with her mother in a song and dance routine.

Conteúdo: Also at Vitagraph was a young actor, Harry Solter, who was looking for "a young, beautiful equestrian girl" to star in a film to be produced by the Biograph Studios under the direction of D.W. Griffith. Griffith, the most prominent producer-director at Biograph Studios, had noticed the beautiful blonde-haired woman in one of Vitagraph's films. Because the film's actors received no mention, Griffith had to make discreet inquiries to learn she was Florence Lawrence and to arrange a meeting. Griffith had intended to give the part to Biograph's leading lady, Florence Turner, but Lawrence managed to convince Solter and Griffith that she was the best suited for the starring role in The Girl and the Outlaw. With the Vitagraph Company, she had been earning $20 a week, working also as a costume seamstress over and above acting. Griffith offered her a job, acting only, for $25 a week.  After her success in this role, she appeared as a society belle in Betrayed by a Handprint and as an Indian in The Red Girl. In total, she had parts in most of the 60 films directed by Griffith in 1908. Toward the end of 1908 Lawrence married Harry Solter. Lawrence gained much popularity, but because her name was never publicized, fans began writing the studio asking for it. Even after she had gained wide recognition, particularly after starring in the highly successful Resurrection, Biograph Studios refused to publicly announce her name and fans simply called her "The Biograph Girl". During cinema's for

user: When did she sign with Biograph studios?

assistant: Griffith offered her a job, acting only, for $25 a week.

user: What did she wo while at Biograph?

assistant: Lawrence managed to convince Solter and Griffith that she was the best suited for the starring role in The Girl and the Outlaw.

user: Did she star in anything else during this time?

assistant: After her success in this role, she appeared as a society belle in Betrayed by a Handprint and as an Indian in The Red Girl.

user: Any other roles while at Biograph?

assistant: In total, she had parts in most of the 60 films directed by Griffith in 1908.

user: any awards or recognition for these roles?

assistant: Even after she had gained wide recognition, particularly after starring in the highly successful Resurrection, Biograph Studios refused to publicly announce her name

user: What was notable or interesting during this time?

assistant: She achieved great popularity in the "Jones" series, filmdom's first comedy series, in which she played Mrs. Jones in around a dozen films.

user: How was her work recieved?

assistant: More popular still were the dramatic love stories in which she co-starred with John R. Cumpson, as Mr. Jones, and Arthur Johnson.

user: Was she considered successful?

assistant: Lawrence gained much popularity, but because her name was never publicized, fans began writing the studio asking for it.

user: What do you find interesting in the article?

assistant: Her demand to be paid by the week rather than daily was met, and she received double the normal rate.