Theda Bara
ActingAbout Theda Bara
From Wikipedia Theda Bara (born Theodosia Burr Goodman, July 29, 1885 – April 7, 1955) was an American silent film and stage actress. Bara was one of the most popular actresses of the silent era, and one of cinema's earliest sex symbols. Her femme fatale roles earned her the nickname The Vamp (short for vampire). Bara made more than 40 films between 1914 and 1926, but most are now lost because the 1937 Fox vault fire destroyed most of her films. After her marriage to Charles Brabin in 1921, she made two more feature films and retired from acting in 1926, having never appeared in a sound film. Bara died of stomach cancer in 1955 at the age of 69.
Theda Bara Movies & Career Overview
The filmography of Theda Bara 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 Theda Bara's work falls within the Drama genre, where audiences tend to respond most strongly to their on-screen presence.
Success Ratio
Approximately 28% of Theda Bara'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 Lure of Ambition, which stands out as a key performance.
Best Theda Bara Movies Ranked
Must-watch hits from Theda Bara's career based on audience ratings.
Full Filmography
Every movie Theda Bara has appeared in, with audience ratings and verdicts.
| Year | Movie | Character | Success | More |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Fragments: Surviving Pieces of Lost Films | Herself (archive footage) | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 2007 | Why Be Good?: Sexuality & Censorship in Early Cinema | Self (archive footage) | Flop | Similar → |
| 2006 | The Woman with the Hungry Eyes | Archival Footage | Average | Similar → |
| 1995 | The Casting Couch | - | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1939 | The Movies March On | Self - From 'A Fool There Was' (archive footage) | Flop | Similar → |
| 1933 | The Film Parade | (archive footage) (uncredited) | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1931 | Stars of Yesterday | Self | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1926 | 45 Minutes from Hollywood | Herself | Flop | Similar → |
| 1926 | Madame Mystery | Madame Mysterieux | Hit | Similar → |
| 1925 | The Unchastened Woman | Caroline Knollys | Flop | Similar → |
| 1919 | Lure of Ambition | Olga Dolan | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1919 | La belle Russe | Fleurette Sackton / La Belle Russe | Flop | Similar → |
| 1919 | Kathleen Mavourneen | Kathleen Mavourneen | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1919 | A Woman There Was | Princess Zara | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1919 | The Siren's Song | Marie Bernais | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1919 | When Men Desire | Marie Lohr | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1919 | The Light | Blanchette Dumond, aka Madame Lefresne | Hit | Similar → |
| 1918 | The She Devil | Lolette | Flop | Similar → |
| 1918 | When a Woman Sins | Lilian Marchard / Poppea | Flop | Similar → |
| 1918 | Salome | Salome | Hit | Similar → |
| 1918 | Under the Yoke | Maria Valverda | Flop | Similar → |
| 1918 | The Soul of Buddha | Bava | Flop | Similar → |
| 1918 | The Forbidden Path | Mary Lynde | Flop | Similar → |
| 1917 | Madame du Barry | Madame du Barry | Hit | Similar → |
| 1917 | The Rose Of Blood | Lisza Tapenka | Flop | Similar → |
| 1917 | Cleopatra | Cleopatra | Flop | Similar → |
| 1917 | Camille | Marguerite Gautier | Flop | Similar → |
| 1917 | Heart and Soul | Jess | Flop | Similar → |
| 1917 | Her Greatest Love | Vera Herbert | Flop | Similar → |
| 1917 | The Tiger Woman | Princess Petrovitch | Flop | Similar → |
| 1917 | The Darling of Paris | Esmeralda | Flop | Similar → |
| 1916 | The Vixen | Elsie Drummond | Flop | Similar → |
| 1916 | Romeo and Juliet | Juliet | Flop | Similar → |
| 1916 | Her Double Life | Mary Doone | Flop | Similar → |
| 1916 | Under Two Flags | Cigarette | Flop | Similar → |
| 1916 | East Lynne | Lady Isabel Carlisle | Flop | Similar → |
| 1916 | The Eternal Sapho | Laura Bruffins | Flop | Similar → |
| 1916 | Gold and the Woman | Juliet DeCordova | Flop | Similar → |
| 1916 | The Serpent | Vania Lazar | Flop | Similar → |
| 1915 | Destruction | Ferdinande Martin | Flop | Similar → |
| 1915 | The Galley Slave | Francesca Brabaut | Flop | Similar → |
| 1915 | Carmen | Carmen | Average | Similar → |
| 1915 | Sin | Rosa | Flop | Similar → |
| 1915 | The Two Orphans | Henriette | Flop | Similar → |
| 1915 | Lady Audley's Secret | Helen Talboys | Flop | Similar → |
| 1915 | The Devil's Daughter | La Gioconda | Flop | Similar → |
| 1915 | The Clemenceau Case | Iza | Flop | Similar → |
| 1915 | Kreutzer Sonata | Celia Friedlander | Flop | Similar → |
| 1915 | A Fool There Was | The Vampire | Flop | Similar → |
| 1914 | The Stain | Gang Moll (as Theodosia Goodman) | Super Hit | Similar → |
Theda Bara - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best movie of Theda Bara?
According to audience ratings, the best movie starring Theda Bara is "Lure of Ambition" with a rating of 10.0/10.
How many movies has Theda Bara acted in?
Theda Bara has been featured in at least 50 major films throughout their career.
What are some other popular movies by Theda Bara?
Other notable films include "When Men Desire", "Kathleen Mavourneen", and "Stars of Yesterday".