Florence Short (Springfield, 1893 – Los Angeles, 1946) was an American silent film actress, active primarily in the second decade of the 20th century. Her career is inextricably linked to the Thanhouser Film Corporation, for which she played leading roles. She is best remembered for her portrayal of the Virgin Mary in the film *The Star of Bethlehem* (1912), one of the first American productions to be considered a feature film. Her most significant contribution to cinema, however, was the lead role in *The Vampire* (1913). This film, based on a poem by Rudyard Kipling, is considered pivotal for introducing and popularizing the archetype of the "vamp"—the seductive femme fatale—in American cinema, predating more famous figures such as Theda Bara. Her other notable works include *The Woman in White* (1912) and *The Evidence of the Film* (1913). Although her career was relatively short, her impact in defining an iconic character secures her a place in the history of early cinema.