Leila Hyams was one of the top leading ladies of the early talkie
pre-code years. She was a likable, pleasing actress with a charming
presence. She had much spark, personality and charisma, and a touch of
down-to-earthiness and naturalness that won over movie fans; they could
relate to her. A versatile, excellent actress she was, able to conform
to any role and maintain that special heartfelt sincerity she always
displayed in her role.
Freaks (1932) was
her best-known movie, in which she played Venus and gave a
compassionate performance. Her image on screen was beautiful but not
conceited, not high and mighty, tough but sweet and she had sex appeal but
always came across as a lady who managed to keep her innocence. Those were the qualities that
carried her to fame and set her apart from the other leading ladies of
early Hollywood.
First Aid(1943)as Red Cross Worker
Yellow Dust(1936)as Nellie Bryan
$1000 a Minute(1935)as Dorothy Summers
People Will Talk(1935)as Peggy Trask
Ruggles of Red Gap(1935)as Nell Kenner
Compression(1995)as Self
Cinemassacre's Monster Madness(2007)as Venus
Tod Browning's 'Freaks': The Sideshow Cinema(2004)as Venus
Schlitzie: One of Usas Self
