Madame Sul-Te-Wan
ActingAbout Madame Sul-Te-Wan
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Madame Sul-Te-Wan (born Nellie Crawford; March 7, 1873 – February 1, 1959) was the first African-American actress to sign a film contract and be a featured performer. She was an American stage, film and television actress for over 50 years. The daughter of former slaves, she began her career in entertainment touring the East Coast with various theatrical companies and moved to California to become a member of the fledgling film community. She became known as a character actress, appeared in high-profile films such as The Birth of a Nation (1915) and Intolerance (1916), and easily navigated the transition to the sound films. In 1986, she was inducted into the Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame.
Madame Sul-Te-Wan Movies & Career Overview
The filmography of Madame Sul-Te-Wan reflects a career marked by diverse experimentation. Across 50 major appearances, the actor has built a reputation through performances in multiple genres and storytelling styles.
Dominant Genre
A large portion of Madame Sul-Te-Wan's work falls within the Drama genre, where audiences tend to respond most strongly to their on-screen presence.
Success Ratio
Approximately 48% of Madame Sul-Te-Wan's films maintain ratings above 6.5, indicating a consistent level of audience approval.
One of the most highly rated entries in their career remains The Carnation Kid, which stands out as a key performance.
Best Madame Sul-Te-Wan Movies Ranked
Must-watch hits from Madame Sul-Te-Wan's career based on audience ratings.
Full Filmography
Every movie Madame Sul-Te-Wan has appeared in, with audience ratings and verdicts.
| Year | Movie | Character | Success | More |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1958 | The Buccaneer | Good Luck Charm Vendor | Hit | Similar → |
| 1957 | Band of Angels | Flower Vendor (Uncredited) | Average | Similar → |
| 1957 | Something of Value | Midwife (Uncredited) | Average | Similar → |
| 1954 | Carmen Jones | Hagar – Carmen's Grandmother (Uncredited) | Average | Similar → |
| 1949 | The Story of Seabiscuit | Libby | Average | Similar → |
| 1949 | Mighty Joe Young | Young Family Servant (Uncredited) | Average | Similar → |
| 1943 | Thank Your Lucky Stars | Bit in "Ice Cold Katie" Number (uncredited) | Average | Similar → |
| 1943 | Revenge of the Zombies | Beulah | Flop | Similar → |
| 1942 | Mokey | Miss Cully (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1941 | Sullivan's Travels | Church Harmonium Player (Uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1941 | King of the Zombies | Tahama | Flop | Similar → |
| 1940 | Love Thy Neighbor | Lady McBeth | Hit | Similar → |
| 1940 | Maryland | Naomi | Hit | Similar → |
| 1940 | Safari | Native Woman | Hit | Similar → |
| 1939 | Torchy Blane... Playing with Dynamite | Ruby (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1939 | Tell No Tales | Jim Alley's Mother (uncredited) | Flop | Similar → |
| 1938 | Kentucky | Lily | Average | Similar → |
| 1938 | The Affairs of Annabel | Benzedrina (uncredited) | Average | Similar → |
| 1938 | In Old Chicago | Hattie | Hit | Similar → |
| 1938 | Island in the Sky | Scrubwoman (Uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1937 | Maid of Salem | Tituba | Average | Similar → |
| 1936 | San Francisco | Earthquake Survivor (Uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1935 | So Red the Rose | Slave (Uncredited) | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1934 | Imitation of Life | Cook (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1934 | Black Moon | Ruva | Average | Similar → |
| 1934 | Operator 13 | Slave at Medicine Show ( Uncredited) | Average | Similar → |
| 1934 | A Modern Hero | Mme. Azais' Neighbor ( Uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1933 | King Kong | Native Handmaiden (uncredited) | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1933 | Ladies They Talk About | Mustard (uncredited) | Average | Similar → |
| 1932 | Jungle Mystery | Native Woman in Stockade (Uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1931 | Heaven on Earth | Voodoo Sue | Flop | Similar → |
| 1930 | The Thoroughbred | Sacharine | Flop | Similar → |
| 1930 | Sarah and Son | Belloc's Maid (Uncredited) | Average | Similar → |
| 1929 | Queen Kelly | Kali Sana - Aunt's Cook (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1929 | Thunderbolt | Bit Role | Average | Similar → |
| 1929 | The Carnation Kid | The Maid (Uncredited) | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1927 | Uncle Tom's Cabin | Slave at Wedding (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1927 | College | Cook (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1925 | The Narrow Street | Easter | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1924 | The Lightning Rider | Mammy | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1922 | Manslaughter | Prison Inmate (uncredited) | Average | Similar → |
| 1922 | The Show | Maid (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1920 | Why Change Your Wife? | Sally's Maid (Uncredited) | Average | Similar → |
| 1919 | His Musical Sneeze | Maid (uncredited) | Average | Similar → |
| 1918 | Old Wives for New | Viola's Maid (uncredited) | Average | Similar → |
| 1918 | Tarzan of the Apes | Esmeralda - Jane's Maid (uncredited) | Flop | Similar → |
| 1917 | Stage Struck | Uncredited | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1916 | Intolerance: Love's Struggle Throughout the Ages | Girl at the Marriage Market (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1916 | Hoodoo Ann | Black Cindy | Average | Similar → |
| 1915 | The Birth of a Nation | Black Woman (uncredited) | Average | Similar → |
Madame Sul-Te-Wan - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best movie of Madame Sul-Te-Wan?
According to audience ratings, the best movie starring Madame Sul-Te-Wan is "The Carnation Kid" with a rating of 10.0/10.
How many movies has Madame Sul-Te-Wan acted in?
Madame Sul-Te-Wan has been featured in at least 50 major films throughout their career.
What are some other popular movies by Madame Sul-Te-Wan?
Other notable films include "Stage Struck", "The Lightning Rider", and "The Narrow Street".