Priscilla Lawson

1935 – The Rise and Fall of Priscilla Lawson

Born in Miami Beach, Priscilla Lawson was a model-turned-actress who made a notable, if brief, impact on the golden age of Hollywood. She was crowned Miss Miami Beach in 1935, a title that helped launch her career into the world of entertainment. As a professional model with a stunning presence, Lawson's beauty caught the attention of major film studios, and she quickly transitioned from the world of modeling to acting. By her early twenties, she was already appearing in films, including a standout role as Princess Aura in the 1936 Flash Gordon serial. This role, albeit brief, cemented her status as a cult figure in the world of 1930s sci-fi and adventure films. The Flash Gordon serial, a pioneering chapter in the space opera genre, is today remembered as a classic, with Lawson’s portrayal of the beautiful but dangerous Princess Aura becoming iconic to comic book fans and movie buffs alike.

After her success in Flash Gordon, Lawson's career seemed to be on the rise, but the nature of Hollywood's studio system often meant that fame was fleeting. Universal Pictures, where she had made her initial mark, dropped her within a year of her Flash Gordon success. She was soon signed by MGM in 1937, but her stay there was equally short-lived. Despite her early promise, Priscilla Lawson’s time in Hollywood was tragically brief. By 1939, she was relegated to minor walk-on roles, such as a hairdresser in the film The Women and a barmaid in Billy the Kid (1941). Despite the less glamorous roles she took on in the final years of her film career, Lawson’s brief appearances helped to shape the narrative of Hollywood's transient nature, where even the most promising careers could be derailed by shifting studio priorities and personal decisions.

In hindsight, Priscilla Lawson's contributions to the film industry are often overshadowed by her early exit from Hollywood, but her work in cult classics like Rocket Ship (1938) and Flash Gordon continues to resonate with fans of vintage cinema and comic book history. Despite being a minor figure in the broader scope of film history, she left a lasting impression on audiences who continue to appreciate her role in shaping the aesthetics of early sci-fi films and adventure serials. Her story is a poignant reminder of how the Golden Age of Hollywood was both a time of great opportunity and intense competition, where many actresses, despite their potential, saw their careers cut short. Lawson’s time in the spotlight may have been brief, but it remains a fascinating chapter in the history of Hollywood serials, and she will forever be remembered as Princess Aura, one of the memorable figures of 1930s cinema.