At age three Florence Turner began appearing in stage productions, and was already a veteran actress when she joined Vitagraph at age 21; the year was 1906 and the dawn of popular cinema was at hand. Credited only as the Vitagraph Girl, she became one of the screen's first stars. In 1913, she went to England with Larry Trimble, her frequent director and long-time friend; they performed together in London music halls and formed Turner Films, their own production company. Turner sometimes co-wrote and/or directed her own films. From 1916-20 she lived in the U.S.; from 1920-24 in England; and after 1924 in Hollywood. However, her popularity had greatly decreased as the popularity of films boomed; she went on to play secondary roles and eventually had to beg for work. In the '30s she was put on the MGM payroll, but it was an act of charity: she was used only as an extra and in bit parts.
by Rovi
biography
