Canadian-American motion-picture actress Mary Pickford started her film career in the United States in 1909, having begun acting on stage in 1900. During the silent-film era, she became one of the first great celebrities of the cinema and a popular icon known to the public as "America's Sweetheart". Initially with the Biograph Company, she moved to the Independent Motion Picture Company in 1911, then briefly to the Majestic Film Company later that same year, followed by a return to Biograph in 1912. After appearing in over 150 short films during her years with these studios, she began working in features with Zukor's Famous Players Film Company, a studio that eventually became part of Paramount Pictures. By 1916, Pickford's popularity had reached the point that she was awarded a contract making her a partner with Zukor and allowing her to produce her own films. Following the release of Secrets (1933), Pickford retired from acting in motion pictures, but remained active as a producer for several years afterwards. (Full list...)