
Laura Bayley
Personal Info
Known for
Acting
Gender
Female
Birthday
1862-02-04
Day of Death
1938-10-25 (76 years old)
Place of Birth
Ramsgate, Kent, England, UK
Laura Bayley
Biography
Laura Eugenia Bayley (4 February 1862 – 25 October 1938) was a British actress and filmmaker, active in the Brighton School of early cinema pioneers. Born in Ramsgate, Bayley performed onstage in Victorian burlesques, revues, and pantomimes, often with her three sisters. After marrying the showman George Albert Smith, she entered the world of early experiments with motion picture film; she played main roles in many of the most important films Smith made between 1897 and 1903, including The Kiss in the Tunnel (1899) and Mary Jane's Mishap (1903).
Behind the camera, Bayley likely played a significant hand in the creative development of Smith's fiction films, and may have directed some of those currently credited to him. She also directed and supervised numerous other films on her own, including a series for an early show-at-home projector design. Film historians have highlighted her prolific career as a film performer as well as the creative talent she brought to filmmaking.
Known For
Acting
(2024)
Noisy Silencers
as (archive footage)
(1906)
Two Clowns
as Female clown
(1903)
Mary Jane's Mishap
as Mary Jane
(1901)
The Death of Poor Joe
as Joe
(1900)
The Old Maid's Valentine
as Miss Pimple
(1900)
Let Me Dream Again
as Young woman
(1899)
The Kiss in the Tunnel
as Wife (as Mrs. George Albert Smith)
(1898)
(1898)
Cinderella
as Cinderella
(1897)
The X-Ray Fiend
as Woman
(1897)
Hanging Out the Clothes
as Maid