Actress Lily Rabe Cast as Mary Pickford in Upcoming Film

Broadway actress Lily Rabe (The Merchant of Venice) has been cast as legendary screen star Mary Pickford in an upcoming film bio.  Shooting on the film begins in early 2013.  The film is based on Eileen Whitfield's biography "Pickford: The Woman Who Made Hollywood."

Rabe, a talented stage actress, has an impressive pedigree.  Her father is playwright David Rabe; her mother was the talented Jill Clayburgh.

The subject is tailor-made for a fascinating glimpse into the beginnings of Hollywood.  Nicknamed "America' s Sweetheart," Pickford became one of the biggest stars in the silent era.  She was even more interesting off-screen: together with Charlie Chaplin, director D.W. Griffith, and Douglas Fairbanks, she co-founded United Artists studio.

Think of the casting fun for this film.  Aside from Griffith, Chaplin, and Fairbanks, there are meaty roles for two other actresses: Charlotte Hennessy, Pickford's mother and manager, and her collaborator, legendary screenwriter Frances Marion.

For more info on the book Pickford: The Woman Who Made Hollywood, click here: