Mary Pickford
Known as "America's Sweetheart" and the "Queen of the Movies", Mary Pickford was one of the most beloved and influential actresses in the early days of Hollywood. Pickford began her acting career in the theater and on Broadway, but it wasn't until she signed with the Biograph Company in 1909 that Pickford truly found her calling. Over the next few years, she became one of the biggest stars in Hollywood, starring in hits like Tess of the Storm Country (1914) and The Poor Little Rich Girl (1917). In 1919, she co-founded United Artists with Charlie Chaplin, Douglas Fairbanks, and D.W. Griffith, giving her greater control over her films and paving the way for other independent filmmakers. In 1975 she was presented with an Honorary Academy Award "in recognition of her unique contributions to the film industry and the development of film as an artistic medium".