Mary Jane “Mae” West (1893-1980) was an American actress, playwright, singer, and comedian whose career lasted for over 70 years. West was well-known in Vaudeville in New York City for her double entendres and quick wit, she made her name on the stage in New York. She moved to Hollywood to become a comedian, actress, and writer. West made just as big as an impact on Hollywood as she did on New York City. The American Film Institute named West 15th among the greatest female stars in classic American film. West frequently wrote the movies she starred in, and due to her ‘outlandish’ sense of humor (outlandish, that is, for the early 1900’s) was just as frequently censored. She fought tooth and nail to keep her sense of humor in her movies, and fought against the conventional way Hollywood wished to portray her. West was well-loved by her Depression-era audience for her fighting against the system.
