Definition

Proper noun * Mary Pickford: A stage name for Gladys Louise Smith, a pioneering actress, producer, and studio co-founder who was a major international star during the silent film era. She was known as "America's Sweetheart" and was a founding member of the film studio United Artists.

Usage

• Mary Pickford is used as a proper noun to refer specifically to the historical figure.
  • Film historians often cite Mary Pickford as one of the most powerful women in early Hollywood.
  • The museum has an exhibit dedicated to Mary Pickford and her contributions to cinema.

Advanced Usage

• The Mary Pickford: Sometimes used to refer to a classic, wholesome archetype of female stardom that she embodied.
  • Her public image was carefully managed to maintain that "Mary Pickford" innocence.

Variants and Related Words

• Pickfordian (adj): Relating to or characteristic of Mary Pickford or her style of acting and public persona.
  • The film has a certain Pickfordian charm.

Synonyms

• America's Sweetheart (nickname)
• Gladys Smith (birth name)

Related Phrases/Idioms

• A Mary Pickford cocktail: A Prohibition-era cocktail named in her honor, typically made with rum, pineapple juice, grenadine, and maraschino liqueur.
  • He ordered a Mary Pickford at the speakeasy-themed bar.

Noun

1. United States film actress (born in Canada) who starred in silent films (1893-1979)