10 Old Hollywood Starlets Who Deserved More Screen Time

Old Hollywood was filled with many starlets who graced screens with their presence. Sadly, some got more exposure than others. Here are 10 Old Hollywood starlets who deserved more screen time!

Anna May Wong

Anna May Wong is known as the first Chinese-American movie star. Wong was in film during the Silent era and then transitioned over to talking films. She starred with Marlene Dietrich in Shanghai Express but for some reason, people only remember Dietrich from that film. Anna May Wong was a powerhouse actress and deserved better but due to racism, she was kept in roles where she couldn’t let her talent shine.

Dolores Del Rio

Dolores Del Rio was a Mexican movie star who hit it big in Hollywood. Many might know her from 1932’s Bird of Paradise, where she shines onscreen. But what happened to Del Rio? After her success in the 30s dwindled in the 40s, she decided to go back to Mexico and make films. She was very successful in her home country.

Dorothy Dandridge

Dorothy Dandridge should have been a big star. She was the first African-American person to be nominated for an Oscar in a leading role for her work in Carmen Jones. However, it was not meant to be. After Dandridge stopped getting roles, she decided to go back to the nightclub scene. She deserved better!

Thelma Ritter

Thelma Ritter may not be considered much of a starlet, but she is on this list after all! Ritter was nominated for six Academy Awards for Best Supporting Actress and won, unfortunately, zero times. She was a powerhouse character actress and should be loved by all. More people should know about Thelma Ritter!

Ida Lupino

Ida Lupino was not only an actress, but she was also a director at a time when there weren’t many female directors. Lupino directed films in the 50s and 60s, which made her part of a mainly all-boy’s club. She was even the first woman to ever film a Film-Noir with The Hitch-Hiker. Ida Lupino was extremely talented and should be recognized more for her accomplishments in film.

Lena Horne

Lena Horne had a sensational singing voice! She should have been in every musical during the 1940s and 1950s; however, racism kept her from being a star. A lot of Horne’s appearances in movies during this time were what were known as standalone numbers. That means they could be easily cut in certain areas of the country. Lena Horne should be a household name!

Joan Blondell

During the 1930s, you couldn’t see a Warner Brothers film without seeing Joan Blondell in it! Blondell was in comedies, dramas, musicals — you name it and she was probably in it. However, it seems that not many people remember her, which is such a shame. She had such great talent!

Anna Magnani

Anna Magnani had that raw, gritty talent that not a lot of American actresses had at the time (it was the 50s after all). Magnani was electric onscreen and was the first Italian actress to win a Best Actress Oscar for her role in The Rose Tattoo. Even though a lot of Magnani’s filmography is in Italian, you should definitely check out her films!

Veronica Lake

Veronica Lake was famous for her peekaboo hairstyle, but she should be known for a lot more. Lake was in many Film Noirs with Alan Ladd and she stole every scene she was in. Not many people know of Lake and that is a shame, especially with her contributions to the Film Noir genre.

Kay Francis

Kay Francis was extremely popular in the 1930s! However, as time has gone on, not many people remember her name. She was in a lot of Pre-Code films (films that were made before the Production Code was strictly enforced). Kay was every bit a starlet and should be remembered among the greats!