Patience Cooper

Patience Cooper Biography

Patience Cooper was one of the earliest Indian actresses, who witnessed the transition of silent era to Indian talkies. She has also acted in many Pakistani movies. She is one of the earliest female stars of Bollywood. Dhruva Charitra (1921), Laila Majnu (1922), Princess Budur (1922), Bilwamangal (1933), Alibaba and the Forty Thieves (1932), Zehari Saap (1933), Khyber Pass (1936), Iraada (1944 and Nala Damayanti (1921) are her noted works. Cooper is credited with the first double roles of Indian cinema. She played the double role of mother and daughter in Kashmiri Sundari and as twin sisters in Patni Pratap. She mostly portrayed the roles of sexually troubled innocent women troubled by the men of her lives. Her unique colouring and sharp features allowed the use of eye-level lighting that was rarely used in India in those days.

She was born in Kolkata in 1905. She was a dancer in Bandmann's Musical Comedy, a Eurasian troupe before making her debut as a film actress. Her association with film world began with Jamshedji Framji Madan's Corinithian Stage Company. Nala Damayanti (1920) was her debut movie, in which she played lead role of Damayanti opposite Keki Adajania. It was a big budget movie and known for its special effects. Her second release was Vishnu Avtar, released next year.

Dhruva Chartitra was her third release, where she played the lead role of Suniti. The movie also featured many European actors. Pati Bhakti (1922), Patni Pratap (1923) and Zehari Saap (1933) are her other releases. She appeared in around 40 movies and took break from the industry in 1944, the last released work being Iraada.

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Updated: May 20, 2014