Kay Francis

Biography

Kay Francis (January 13, 1905 – August 26, 1968) was an American stage and film actress known for her significant contributions to Hollywood during the early 20th century. After starting her career on Broadway in the late 1920s, she transitioned to film and became the top female star at Warner Brothers between 1930 and 1936. During this period, she was recognized as the highest-paid American actress in the film industry. Francis's work is preserved in part through her film-related materials and personal papers, which are housed in the Wesleyan University Cinema Archives, making them accessible to scholars and researchers. Her legacy remains influential in the history of American cinema.