Hilda Vaughn, a Baltimore-born theatre actress, was a prominent figure in the early days of the sound period, spending a decade in intense activity, primarily at MGM. Throughout her career, she consistently portrayed plebeian characters, including maids, charwomen, governesses, saleswomen, and slaveys, but her performances were far from lacking in depth and complexity.
Vaughn's most notable role was likely Tina, blackmail theing domestic in George Cukor's 1933 film "Dinner at Eight," starring Jean Harlow. In this iconic movie, Vaughn brought her character to life with a level of nuance and charisma that has endured long after the film's initial release.
After 1940, Vaughn returned to her roots in the theatre, where she continued to hone her craft. However, her career was later marred by the devastating effects of the McCarthy era and the subsequent blacklisting that left her, along with many other artists, struggling to regain their footing in the industry.
