Actress. She will be best remembered for her role as 'Jacqueline Allen' in the film, "The Dawn Of Love" (1916). The dramatic film, which was directed by Edwin Carewe and also starred Robert Frazer, Frank Bates, Leslie Stowe, Martin Faust, and Peter Lang, tells the story of Jacqueline, whose father, Miles Allen, in the guise of a fisherman, smuggles silk and fur into the country. Customs officer John Lang comes to investigate, and he and Jacqueline quickly fall in love. The owner of Miles's boat, Ward Jennings, also loves Jacqueline, but Miles refuses to let him marry her, and so, out of revenge, Ward reveals Miles's smuggling operation to coast guard officers, who kill Miles in a struggle at his home. Jacqueline mistakenly blames John for her father's death and goes to Ward for help. She then learns the truth about Ward, and, in a cliff-top fight with him, he falls to his death. John comes to comfort Jacqueline, and then they begin making plans for their life together. She was born one of two children in Manhattan, New York, as Maybelle Evelyne Taliaferro to Robert Taliaferro and his wife Anna Barriscale Taliaferro on May 21, 1887. The family later moved to Richmond, Virginia. She was descended on her father's side from one of the early families who settled in Virginia in the 17th Century. The family roots are from a northern Italian immigrant who settled in England in the 16th Century. She was educated locally and began acting at the age of two years old on the stage with Chauncey Olcott. She then appeared with Sol Smith Russell and James A. Hearne in "A Poor Relation" (1898), and achieved distinction for her role as little 'Esther' in Israel Zangwill's play, "Children Of The Ghetto" (1899). She also played the witching elf-child in William Butler Yeats's Gaelic fantasy, "The Land Of Heart's Desire" (1903), appeared in "An American Invasion" (1902-1903), with John E. Dodson and Annie Irish, and was seen in the support of Louis Mann in "The Consul" (1903). Her greatest opportunity came when she was cast for the role of 'Lovey Mary' in "Mrs. Wiggs Of The Cabbage Patch" (1903-1905), a part she played continuously for two and one-half years. In 1905 she supported Arnold Daly in "You Never Can Tell" (1905), and later went on tour in "The Bishop's Carriage" (1905). After a brief season in vaudeville, she joined William Collier's company on a tour of Australia. Besides, "A Poor Relation" (1898), "Children Of The Ghetto" (1899), "The Land Of Heart's Desire" (1903), "An American Invasion" (1902-1903), "The Consul" (1903), "Mrs. Wiggs Of The Cabbage Patch" (1903-1905), "You Never Can Tell" (1905), and "The Bishop's Cage" (1905), her many other plays include, "Lost River" (1900), "The Price Of Peace" (1901), "The Little Princess" (1903), "The Land Of Heart's Desire" (1903), "Pippa Passes" (1906), "Polly Of The Circus" (1907), "Springtime" (1909), "The Call Of The Cricket" (1910), "Young Wisdom" (1914), "Luck In Pawn" (1919), "The Piper" (1920), "Back Fire" (1932), "The Prince's Secret" (1935), "George Washington Slept Here" (1941), "Victory Belles" (1944), "Bloomer Girl" (1946), and "Springtime Folly" (1951). After appearing on the stage, she decided to try her luck in films. A star of the silent film era, she was given the nickname of "The Sweetheart of American Movies." She began appearing in films for Selig Studios and made her actual film debut playing the lead role of 'Cinderella' in "Cinderella" (1912). The fantasy romance short, which was directed by Colin Campbell and also starred Winnifred Greenwood, Frank Weed, Lillian Leighton, Josephine Miller, and Olive Cox, tells the story of Cinderella's mother who dies and her father marries a cruel widow with two ugly daughters of her own disposition. The father leaves on a long journey, and poor Cinderella is soon forced to act as a "slave" to the tyrannical stepmother and her daughters. They abuse and mistreat her and finally turn her out of the house. The girl, footsore and weary, takes refuge in a deserted garden. Prince Charming refuses to marry the girl the king chooses for him and is thrust into prison. He makes his escape and, by a strange coincidence, attempts to hide in the same deserted garden that Cinderella has chosen. The prince has changed his garb for that of a milk vendor, and in this apparel, he meets Cinderella, who is also in rags. With each, it is a case of love at first sight. He gives her a ring, allowing him to cut and keep a lock of her hair. The girl, now refreshed and happy, returns to her home, while the prince dreams of his girl in tatters. The king issues a proclamation announcing that if the prince returns, he may marry whomsoever he will. The prince, overjoyed, returns. Cinderella, now happy and carefree, pays little heed to her daily abuse and ill-treatment. She finds great comfort and solace in the ring, and memories, until one day the Prince is pointed out to her, and in him, she recognizes her milk vendor. And so again, her childish dreams are shattered. The king gives a grand ball in honor of his son. The stepmother and sisters go, leaving Cinderella behind, brokenhearted. Her fairy godmother then comes to her assistance, however, making it possible for Cinderella to attend the ball, the only requirement being that Cinderella leaves the palace before midnight. Cinderella agrees and departs for the ball in the state. At the ball. Cinderella captivates the prince and his guests with her beauty and mischievousness. To him, she looks familiar, but she steadfastly refuses to divulge her identity. Cinderella so thoroughly enjoys her evening with the prince that she forgets the approaching midnight hour until it arrives. Then suddenly remembering her godmother's admonition, she rushes from the palace, but in doing so, she loses one of her silver slippers. Later the prince finds the slipper, and sends his couriers throughout the land, announcing that the owner of the foot that fits the slipper shall become his wife. Cinderella, by chance, is granted permission to try on the slipper, and lo, she becomes a princess. Besides, "Cinderella" (1912), and "The Dawn Of Love" (1916), her many other film credits include, "The Sunbeam" (1912, short), and "The Three Of Us" (1914), "The Great Price" (1916), "The Snowboard" (1916), "God's Half Acre" (1916), "Sunbeam" (1916), "A Wife By Proxy" (1917), "The Barracade" (1917), "A Magdalene Of The Hills" (1917), "Peggy, The Will O' The Wisp" (1917), "The Jury Of Fate" (1917), "Peggy Leads The Way" (1917), "Draft 258" (1917), "The Mite Of Love" (1919), "Sentimental Tommy" (1921), "The Rich Slave" (1921), "Alexander Hamilton" (1924), "Tolls Of The Law" (1938), "My Love Came Back" (1940), and "You Can't Take It With You" (1945). Her many television credits include, "NBC Presents" (1949), "Studio One" (1950), "Armstrong Circle Theatre" (1952), and "The Joseph Cotten Show: On Trial" (1956). She was married four times, first to architect, engineer, inventor, and showman Frederic Williams Thompson from November 30, 1906, to December 3, 1911, (he was also her manager and announced that her first name would be changed to 'Nell' for billing purposes. Her first production with her new name was "Springtime" (1909), and the change brought an outcry of opposition from the public. By 1910, she was once again Mabel). The couple had no children and were later divorced. She married for a second time to actor Thomas Jay Carrigan from June 1, 1913, to May 16, 1919. The couple had one child together, a son, but later divorced. She married for a third time to Joseph O'Brien from January 11, 1920, to June 1, 1929. The couple had no children together and were later divorced. She married for a fourth time to actor Robert Howard Ober from May 2, 1934, until his death on December 7, 1950. Her sister was the actress Ethel Taliaferro (1894-1958), and her cousin was the actress Bessie Barriscale (1884-1965). She passed away in Honolulu, Hawaii, on January 24, 1979, at the age of 91, and was buried in Greenhaven Memorial Park in Kaneohe, Hawaii. At the time of her death, her estate was valued at $13,371,00.