Virginia Cherrill was an American actress who rose to fame in the 1920s and 1930s. She is best known for her performance as the blind flower girl in the 1931 Charlie Chaplin film, “City Lights.” Her career spanned only a brief period, but her work in that period left an indelible mark on Hollywood.
Cherrill was born on April 12, 1908, in Carthage, Illinois. She began her career as a model and then worked as a showgirl in Chicago. In 1928, she signed a contract with Hal Roach Studios and appeared in a few small roles in films such as “Silent Justice” and “The Leatherneck.” However, it was her work in “City Lights” that secured her lasting fame.
Cherrill’s role in “City Lights” was a challenging one. She played a blind flower girl who befriends Chaplin’s tramp character. Cherrill had to convincingly portray the blindness of her character without resorting to over-the-top, melodramatic acting. Chaplin was famously demanding on set, and the shoot for “City Lights” lasted for two years. However, the finished product was a triumph, and Cherrill’s performance was praised by critics and audiences alike.
Despite the critical acclaim she received, Cherrill’s Hollywood career was brief. She was under contract to U.A. for another film, “The Brat,” which was released in 1931, but her work in it was not as well-received as her performance in “City Lights.” After that, she appeared in a few more films before retiring from acting altogether in 1936.
After she left Hollywood, Cherrill married several times and lived in Europe. She took up philanthropic work, and during World War II, she worked as a nurse for the British Red Cross. She returned to the United States in the 1980s, and briefly returned to the screen, appearing in the film “The Great Mouse Detective” in 1986.
Virginia Cherrill’s career in Hollywood may have been brief, but her work in “City Lights” left an indelible mark on cinema history. Her portrayal of the blind flower girl remains an iconic performance, and her work helped to establish Charlie Chaplin as one of the greatest filmmakers of all time. Cherrill’s legacy may be small in terms of quantity, but it is enormous in terms of quality, and she will be remembered as a truly remarkable actress.
| Place of Birth | Carthage, Illinois |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 1908-04-12 |
| Deathday | 1996-11-14 |
If you’re looking for a timeless classic that will tug at your heartstrings and make you feel good, then City Lights (1931) is definitely the movie for you. From start to finish, this film directed by the legendary Charlie Chaplin is a masterclass in storytelling and visual comedy. The story follows Chaplin’s iconic character, the […]
