Skip to content
MovieCove
Hattie McDaniel

Hattie McDaniel

Actor · Died October 26, 1952, aged 59 · Wichita, Kansas, USA

Hattie McDaniel (June 10, 1893 - October 26, 1952) was an American actress whose portrayal of Mammy in Gone with the Wind (1939) won her the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress, making her the first black person to win an Academy Award. After working as early as the 1910s as a band vocalist, Hattie McDaniel debuted as a maid in The Golden West (1932). Her maid-mammy characters became steadily more assertive, showing up first in Judge Priest (1934) and becoming pronounced in Alice Adams (1935). In this one, directed by George Stevens and aided and abetted by star Katharine Hepburn, she makes it clear she has little use for her employers' pretentious status seeking. By The Mad Miss Manton (1938) the character she portrays actually tells off her socialite employer Barbara Stanwyck and her snooty friends. This path extends into the greatest role of McDaniel's career, Mammy in Gone with the Wind (1939). Mammy is, in a number of ways, superior to most of the white folk surrounding her. From that point, McDaniel's roles unfortunately descended, with the characters becoming more and more menial. McDaniel played on the "Amos and Andy" and Eddie Cantor radio shows in the 1930s and 1940s, the title character in her own radio show "Beulah" (1947-51), and the same part on TV (Beulah, 1950).

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
June 10, 1893
Died
October 26, 1952 (aged 59)
From
Wichita, Kansas, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
36 on MovieCove · 94 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 38 days to Oct 27Up 33% in 30 days

What are Hattie McDaniel's films like?

Across their 22 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.

Genres

Comedy11 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 62nd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Drama5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 88th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Action3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 3rd percentile
: browse their Action movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Bonds
51%
Self
16%
Morality
13%
Power
6%
Survival
6%
Society
6%
Ideas
1%
Family bonds10 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love8 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth4 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice3 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity2 titles, browse their movies with this themeMarriage2 titles, browse their movies with this themeParenthood2 titles, browse their movies with this themeClass2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 22 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Light: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their light movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 15 · Serious 4 · Dark 3

Grounded: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their grounded movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 15 · Stylized 4 · Heightened 3

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

A split, not a type: Gentle 11 · Charged 10 · Intense 1

Steady: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their steady movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 14 · Shifting 7 · Whiplash 1

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 7 · Some laughs 10 · Funny 5

Slow burn: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their slow burn movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 13 · Even-paced 8 · Relentless 1

Casual: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their casual movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 17 · Engaged 5 · Full focus 0

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 20 · Open-ended 2 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

11 analyzed roles

Usually the Ally: 7 of 11 analyzed roles.

Ally
7 of 11
Mentor
2 of 11
Herald
1 of 11
Shapeshifter
1 of 11
Show the 11 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Warm
10
Tense
7
Melancholic
8
Joyful
7
Romantic
7
Other
17

How their films linger

Feel-good15 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 1 with a twist

  • Happy16
  • Bittersweet6

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Hattie McDaniel's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 10 of their 36 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on MGM+ (7).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Hattie McDaniel's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

94 credits, 36 with a MovieCove page; 10 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • 1939: Secrets of Hollywood's Golden Year (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Becoming Marilyn (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    as (archive footage)

  • The Little Rascals - The ClassicFlix Restorations, Volume 5 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    Actor

  • Musical Comedy Tonight III (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Actor

  • The Beulah Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    Show 6 episodes · as Beulah

  • The Big Wheel(1949)

    as Minnie

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • Family Honeymoon(1948)

    as Phyllis

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all films

  • Mickey(1948)

    as Bertha

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • The Flame(1947)

    as Celia

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Song of the South(1946)

    as Aunt Tempy

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Never Say Goodbye(1946)

    as Cozy

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • Margie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1946)

    as Cynthia

  • Janie Gets Married (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1946)

    as April

  • Hi, Beautiful (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)

    as Millie

  • Three Is a Family(1944)

    as Maid

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Janie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)

    as April, Conway's Maid

  • Since You Went Away(1944)

    as Fidelia

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Thank Your Lucky Stars(1943)

    as Gossip in "Ice Cold Katie" Number

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Johnny Come Lately (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1943)

    as Aida

  • George Washington Slept Here(1942)

    as Hester

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • In This Our Life(1942)

    as Minerva Clay

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • The Male Animal (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    as Cleota

  • They Died with Their Boots On(1941)

    as Callie

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Affectionately Yours (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    as Cynthia, Sue's Cook

  • The Great Lie(1941)

    as Violet

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • Maryland (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Aunt Carrie

  • Gone with the Wind(1939)

    as Mammy

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Zenobia(1939)

    as Dehlia

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • Everybody's Baby (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Hattie

  • The Shining Hour (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as Belvedere

  • The Mad Miss Manton(1938)

    as Hilda

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Carefree (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as Hattie (uncredited)

  • The Shopworn Angel(1938)

    as Martha

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Vivacious Lady(1938)

    as Hattie (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • Battle of Broadway (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as Agatha

  • True Confession (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Ella

  • Quick Money (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Hattie (uncredited)

  • 45 Fathers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Beulah

  • Nothing Sacred(1937)

    as Mrs. Walker (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • Merry Go Round of 1938 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Maid

  • Over the Goal (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Hannah

  • Sky Racket(1937)

    as Jenny

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all films

  • Saratoga(1937)

    as Rosetta

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Mississippi Moods (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    Actor

  • The Wildcatter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Pearl (uncredited)

  • The Crime Nobody Saw (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Ambrosia

  • Don't Tell the Wife (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Mamie (uncredited)

  • Racing Lady (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Abby

  • Reunion (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    as Sadie

  • Can This Be Dixie? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    as Lizzie

  • Libeled Lady(1936)

    as Scrubwoman in Grand Plaza Hall (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • Valiant Is the Word for Carrie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    as Ellen Belle

  • Star for a Night (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    as Hattie

  • Postal Inspector(1936)

    as Deborah

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films

  • High Tension (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    as Hattie

  • The Bride Walks Out(1936)

    as Mamie

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Show Boat(1936)

    as Queenie

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Arbor Day (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    as Buckwheat's Mother (uncredited)

  • Gentle Julia (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    as Kitty Silvers

  • The Singing Kid (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    as Maid (uncredited)

  • The First Baby (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    as Dora

  • We're Only Human(1935)

    as Molly

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Another Face (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    as Nellie (uncredited)

  • Music Is Magic (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    as Hattie (Amanda in credits)

  • Murder by Television(1935)

    as Isabella

    Midcredits score: 4th percentile of all films

  • Alice Adams(1935)

    as Malena Burns - Maid Serving Dinner

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • China Seas(1935)

    as Isabel McCarthy, Dolly's Maid (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Wig-Wag (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    as Cook

  • Traveling Saleslady (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    as Martha Smith (uncredited)

  • Anniversary Trouble (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    as Maid

  • The Little Colonel(1935)

    as Becky "Mom Beck" Porter

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Okay Toots! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    as Maid (uncredited)

  • The Chases of Pimple Street (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    as Hattie - Gertrude's Maid (uncredited)

  • Babbitt (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    as Rosalie (uncredited)

  • Imitation of Life(1934)

    as Woman at Funeral (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Fate's Fathead (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    as Mandy - the Maid

  • Lost in the Stratosphere(1934)

    as Ida Johnson

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all films

  • Flirtation (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    as Abigail (uncredited)

  • Judge Priest(1934)

    as Aunt Dilsey

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • King Kelly of the U.S.A. (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    as Mop Buyer

  • Operator 13 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    as Annie (uncredited)

  • City Park (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    as Tessie

  • Merry Wives of Reno (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    as Bunny's Maid (uncredited)

  • Mickey's Rescue (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    as Maid

  • Good-bye Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

    as Edna the Maid

  • I'm No Angel(1933)

    as Manicurist (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Hello, Sister!(1933)

    as Woman in Apartment House

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Hypnotized (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    as Powder Room Attendant

  • The Golden West (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    as Mammy Lou

  • Blonde Venus(1932)

    as Cora, Helen's Maid in New Orleans (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • The Boiling Point (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    as Caroline - the Cook (uncredited)

  • The Washington Masquerade (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    as Maid (uncredited)

  • Are You Listening? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    as Performer entering radio station

  • The Impatient Maiden (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    as Injured Patient (uncredited)

Career shape

Star power in the 95th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 94 titles from 1932 to 2023.

Biggest box office

Gone with the Wind (1939)

$402M worldwide

Highest rated

Gone with the Wind (1939)

Midcredits 97th

Film career

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting94 of 94: 94 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score71st

By decade

1930s68 · acting1940s21 · acting1950s1 · acting1980s1 · acting2020s3 · acting

Billing

usually 12th · top billed in 0% of 20 roles
3237

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do Hattie McDaniel's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 71st percentile, the median of all 36; across their 22 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 59th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

59thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 22

Approval · how many liked their films

67thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 22

Reach · how many have seen their films

49thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 22

Midcredits score across 36 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up12
  • 50th to 74th15
  • 25th to 49th3
  • Below 25th6

Shape of the crowd

19 of their 36 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved6
  • Universally Panned2
  • Crowd Pleaser19
  • Broadly Agreed4
  • Mixed5

Most divisive · actor

Three Is a Family (1944)

62nd percentile spread · 39% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Gone with the Wind (1939)

Midcredits 97th · 85% liked

Reviewers score the acting 69/100 in their films, across 21 reviewed titles; fans 78, detractors 45. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Who does Hattie McDaniel work with?

People who share at least 2 of Hattie McDaniel's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Max Steiner shares the most, 4.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles