Lillian Gish was an American actress who was active in the early 20th century. She is best known for her work in silent films, such as D.W. Griffith's Birth of a Nation and Intolerance. Gish was one of the first movie stars to be widely recognized and was often referred to as 'The First Lady of American Cinema'. She was also a successful stage actress and was nominated for an Academy Award for her performance in The Whales of August.