Edna Mae Harris

Edna Mae Harris

Edna Mae Harris was one of the best-known Black actresses of the 1930s and 1940s. She starred in many all-black cast independently produced movies of the day. An attractive woman who had a soulful voice, personality and sex appeal, she could sing, dance and act. The personification of a Harlem performer, Edna found fame by playing in both stage and screen versions of The Green Pastures (1936) as Zeba. Audiences loved her, and she received glorious reviews, so it was no surprise when Hollywood asked her to repeat her role on screen to wide acclaim. Edna Mae was very much in demand starring in some of the top Black movies such as Spirit of Youth (1938), Paradise in Harlem (1939), Sunday Sinners (1940), The Notorious Elinor Lee (1940), and Tall, Tan, and Terrific (1946), showing her excellent acting skills in drama and comedy. Edna Mae Harris got to tell her story in her later years in the documentary, Midnight Ramble (1994), about independently produced Black films.

Known For: Acting

Born: New York City, New York, USA, 1910-09-29

Died: 1997-09-15

No.	Year	Title	Role	Vote Average
1	1936	Fury	Black Woman (uncredited)	74
2	1936	Private Number	Lulu (Uncredited)	65
3	1936	Bullets or Ballots	Rose - Lee's Maid (uncredited)	66
4	1936	The Green Pastures	Zeba	63
5	1938	Spirit of Youth	Mary Bowdin	55
6	1939	Paradise in Harlem	Doll Davis	47
7	1939	Lying Lips	Elsie Bellwood	47
8	1940	The Notorious Elinor Lee	Fredi Welsh	40
9	1940	Sunday Sinners	Corrine Aiken	0
10	1940	Stolen Paradise	Maid	0
11	1942	Legs Ain't No Good		0
12	1943	Stage Door Canteen	Sun Tan Girl (uncredited)	58
13	1994	Midnight Ramble	Self - Actress	70

Edna Mae Harris

Film

Television