Pauline Frederick was an actress who grew up in Dorchester. She was born Pauline Beatrice Libby but took Pauline Frederick as her stage name. She graduated from Miss Blanchard’s Finishing School in Boston, where she studied acting, and made her debut on the local stage at age 17. She moved to New York City where she had several successful stage appearances before her first film role in 1915. Frederick appeared in many movies and continued to act on the stage as well. One of her most famous roles was as Madame X in a well-reviewed silent film released in 1920. Frederick’s personal life was tumultuous. She was married five times and frequently experienced financial difficulties. Frederick died in Beverly Hills in 1938 during an asthma attack. A testament to her contributions to the movie industry is her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
