Precocious Charms

Stars Performing Girlhood in Classical Hollywood Cinema

Gaylyn Studlar, the ­David May Distinguished ­Professor in the ­Humanities and director of the Film and Media Studies program, takes representations of girlhood as the topic of her latest book. She examines female stars portraying young girls. These roles were sometimes played by children but more often were played by adult actresses. Studlar looks at the inspiration for these portrayals and the influence they had on America’s cultural imagination.