Though almost forgotten today, Adrienne Kroell, daughter of a German-born electrical engineer form Chicago, was at one time considered one of the most beautiful women in the film business. Winner of the 1907 International Beauty Contest hosted by the St. Louis Republican, she first acted with the St. Louis Suburban Stock Company. She entered silent films with Selig Polyscope, where she became known as the "Selig Coquette". Appearing mainly in comedies, she also worked occasionally for Essanay and Flying A. Her career came to a premature end in 1917 due to an increasing affliction with arthritis. By 1929, she was living in San Diego, making ends meet as a drama teacher.
