Mabel Smaney

Mabel Smaney's unique appearance and unique talents helped her craft one of the more interesting careers for a Hollywood extra. She started in early 1930s were unlike many other people, she would send out photos to casting directors where she would write her weight on the back of the photo in an effort to try to get roles that were meant for larger girls. This would go on to launch one of the most interesting careers for a female extra. By the 1940s, Mabel realized that if she was going to have a career in Hollywood she would have to specialize even further so she started to appear in scenes where there was a square dance. She quickly earned a reputation among casting directors that she was dependable and that she was the type of female whose real life appearance enabled her to play a wide variety of characters that were meant to be seen ordinary people and not a glamour contract player. She managed to play everything from a truck drive to an opera singer. When she couldn't get acting