May McAvoy In Sunny California

Looking a little pensive, May McAvoy's place in cinematic history appears to be all but forgotten.

It's a shame, as she was part of a series of Hollywood firsts that.

Anyone vaguely aware of film has heard of the first 'talkie' The Jazz Singer and can generally name Al Jolson in the lead but don't acknowledge her co-starring role.

Unlike other actresses at the time whose star waned with the advent of speaking roles, McAvoy put her career on hold on her own terms to start a family in 1929 and only returned to film in series of uncredited bit roles from the 1940s.

McAvoy also managed her career on terms. Shunned by the studios in 1923 after refusing Cecil B DeMille's offer a role that required nudity, McAvoy bought out her contract and became the first actress to successfully 'freelance' outside the studio system.

As a result she starred in classics such as Ben Hur, Lady Windermere's Fan and the Jazz Singer.

Watch the chariot race from the 1925 film here - still exciting after all these years.