**Mae Clarke (1910-1992)** was an American actress, known for her career in the early 1930s, especially during Hollywood's pre-Code era. Her fame is primarily linked to iconic roles in films that made cinematic history.

She is famous for her scene in *The Public Enemy* (1931), where she receives a grapefruit to the face from James Cagney, a moment that immediately became iconic. In the same year, she played Elizabeth Lavenza in *Frankenstein*, contributing to the most tense and memorable moments of the horror classic.

Clarke was often cast in roles of strong yet vulnerable women, sometimes victims of brutal circumstances or violent men, personifying a type of dramatic heroine common in that era. Among her other significant films is *Waterloo Bridge* (1931). Her later career saw her in many supporting roles.