Anne Shirley is one of the young stars - frequently, instead, a major supporting actress - of yesteryear.

She was perfect and wonderful in 1934's Anne of Green Gables, portraying the delightful role of the lead character whose name was Anne Shirley. Prior to then appearing billed in films as Dawn O'Day (though born, and actually named, Dawn Paris), the 1934 film was such a major success that the lovely teenaged actress adopted her new show business name from that of the movie's title character.

Miss Shirley was also (regarding select additional classic films I readily am able to recall seeing) terrific in 1937's Stella Dallas, and in 1944's Murder, My Sweet. I've also seen her in a smattering of her pre-Anne Shirley childhood roles, in some Pre-Code era movies. In one - 1932's Three on a Match - she plays Bette Davis' adult character as a schoolgirl.