Edna Purviance

 
Olga Edna Purviance was an American actress of the silent film era. She was the leading lady in many of Charlie Chaplin's early films and in a span of eight years, she appeared in over 30 films with him.

In 1915, Purviance was working as a secretary in San Francisco when actor and director Charlie Chaplin was working on his second film with Essanay Studios. He was looking for a leading lady for A Night Out. One of his associates noticed Purviance at a Tate's Cafe in San Francisco and thought she should be cast in the role. Chaplin arranged a meeting with her and, although he was concerned that she might be too serious for comedic roles, she won the job.

After her retirement in 1926, Charles Chaplin kept her on his payroll for decades, showing her much more concern and consideration than he did to any of his former wives.

Purviance was injured when she fell from a sleigh being pulled by runaway horses in Lyons, France on December 31, 1927. Armand Bernard, who had just made the film Education of a Prince (1927) with her was injured trying to stop the horses.