Eileen Dennes


Eileen Dennes was an Irish-born actress of the silent era.

Early life and career

Eileen Dennes was born Eileen Amhurst Cowen on 1 February 1898 in Dublin, Ireland.
She began on the stage in the early 1910s. After travelling to Hollywood in 1917, she found work at the Empire Al Star Film Company and was offered the role of Ethel Fielding in her first film The Unforseen alongside Olive Tell. She made one more film in Hollywood with Tell that year titled Her Sister.
Dennes then decided to find work in England; it was there that Cecil Hepworth offered her a contract and, in 1919, she appeared in her first English film as Bessie Saxton in Sheba starring Alma Taylor. She was later given the chance at starring roles in films such as Once Aboard the Lugger, Mr. Justice Raffles, and, once again with Alma Taylor, The Pipes of Pan.
The final film that she worked on with Hepworth was Comin' Thro the Rye in 1923. She then worked with Fred LeRoy Granville a year later in his film The Sins Ye Do. Dennes' last film appearance was in 1925 as Lucy in The Squire of Long Hadley, appearing alongside Brian Aherne.
Dennes died 22 January 1991 in Hungerford, Berkshire, at the age of 92.

Selected filmography

YearTitleRoleNotes
1917The UnforseenEthel Fielding
1917Her SisterJane Alderson
1919ShebaBessie Saxton
1919The Forest on the HillAudrey Leaman
1920Alf's ButtonLady Isobel Fitzpeter
1920Once Aboard the LuggerMary Humfray
1920John Forrest Finds HimselfThe Pet
1920Mrs. Erricker's ReputationLady Lettice Erricker
1920Great Snakes
1921The Tinted VenusBella Parkinson
1921Wild HeatherDolly
1921TansyVicar's Daughter
1921Mr. Justice RafflesCamilla Belsize
1921Tit for TatClove
1923The Pipes of PanEnid Markham
1923Strangling ThreadsMiss Debb
1923Comin' Thro the RyeSylvia Fleming
1924The Sins Ye DoLady Eslin
1924Peeps into PuzzlelandMotherShort film
1924A Dear LiarShort film
1925The Squire of Long HadleyLucy