Theresa Harris was a versatile and talented actress who appeared in more films than anyone else during the Golden Era of Hollywood. She was a singer, dancer, and actress who worked with top stars of the day, often stealing scenes from them. Despite being typecast in maid roles, Theresa showed her range by playing glamorous, classy, and beautiful characters.
Theresa was one of the few black women to not fit the mammy/maid stereotype on screen, being a petite beauty who often played characters that were sexy, glamorous, and her own person. In the pre-Code classic "Baby Face" (1933),she had equal screen time with Barbara Stanwyck, which was rare for a black actress at that time. Theresa's performance was memorable and contributed to the film's status as a classic.
In "Professional Sweetheart" (1933),she played a spunky and sexy maid who teaches Ginger Rogers a thing or two about being "hot" and ends up replacing her as a singer. Theresa's characters often showed a true friendship with the leading ladies, which was another rarity at the time.
Theresa appeared in many films, including "Hold Your Man" (1933),"Black Moon" (1934),"Gangsters on the Loose" (1937),"Jezebel" (1938),"The Toy Wife" (1938),"Tell No Tales" (1939),"Buck Benny Rides Again" (1940),"Love Thy Neighbor" (1940),"Blossoms in the Dust" (1941),"Cat People" (1942),and "I Walked with a Zombie" (1943),among others.
Theresa was a versatile talent who could sing beautifully and dance divinely. She appeared in musical numbers in films such as "Thunderbolt" (1929),"Baby Face", "Professional Sweetheart", "Banjo on My Knee" (1936),"Buck Benny Rides Again", "What's Buzzin', Cousin?" (1943),and "The French Line" (1953).
Theresa was a dynamic screen presence, often paired with her screen boyfriend, Eddie 'Rochester' Anderson. They were a popular on-screen couple, appearing together in "Buck Benny Rides Again" and "What's Buzzin', Cousin?". In the former, they sang and danced in a musical number, "My, My".
Theresa Harris was perhaps the hardest-working woman in Hollywood, appearing in close to 90 films and working with every major studio and most of the big stars. She was respected by studio executives, producers, directors, and co-workers alike, who often went out of their way to give her more lines and screentime.
