This golden-haired girl with those big brown eyes was born Agnes Vernon to an Irish Catholic family in La Grande, Oregon, on December 27, 1895.

[4][3] In an article published in the Sacramento Star dated January 6, 1917, Agnes Vernon, in her own words, wrote, "It happened that I was spending a summer in California with a girl whom I had known in Chicago.

A passing face, a friend visiting the set, or an odd happening that caught a director's eye — all these, as well as direct applications — often led to successful movie careers.

An article in the Moving Picture Weekly pointed out, "She does everything that even a screen actress can be asked to do — rides, drives, runs a car, swims, dives, dances, plays any and every game, and will perform stunts with the best of the daredevils if the director says so.

The first credited movie role for Agnes Vernon was the 3-reel short film[b] Bison production of The Triumph of Mind, starring and directed by Lois Weber.

In 1914, she performed under the management of 5 directors: Lois Weber, Murdock MacQuarrie, Charles Giblyn, Otis Turner, and Joseph De Grasse.

In 1914, Vernon also performed in several films with Lon Chaney, including The Old Cobbler, A Ranch Romance, By the Sun's Rays, and The Oubliette.

By the Sun's Rays has survived and is available on the Internet Archive The Oubliette, released on August 15, 1914, was the first movie in a 4-part serial — The Adventures of François Villon directed by Charles Giblyn.

[33] Because of the injuries suffered in a car accident (see the next section), she could not fulfill this obligation, and Universal selected Roberta Wilson to play the role.

In mid-December 1916, 20-year-old Agnes Vernon, 29-year-old Eddie Laemmle, 49-year-old Bill Gillis, and Fred Robinson piled into a convertible automobile.

The December 23, 1916 issue of the Moving Picture Weekly said "She was thrown from an automobile when it was going at a rapid rate of speed, and although not seriously injured, suffered a nervous shock which made her appearance at the studio impossible.

"[36] Another article reported in Los Angeles Evening Post-Record January 1, 1917, recounted, "For several days Agnes Vernon  ... was confined to her home following injuries she received when thrown from an automobile.

The official publication of Universal then stated: "For several days, Agnes Vernon, known as Brownie, who plays one of the leading roles in Director William Worthington's company in the forthcoming bluebird The Man Who Took a Chance was confined to her home, following injuries, she received when thrown from an automobile."

The article finished using the phrasing "Eddie Lammle, Bill Gillis, and Fred Robinson was also "spilled" but escaped with merely a few bruises.

The back page headline in The Moving Picture World article dated September 22, 1917, read "Universal Increases Forces."

The article stated, "More additions have been made to the acting and forces at Universal City during the past month than at Any Similar Period throughout the present year.

Vernon's baptismal name was Agnes, but even with her long, cork-screw blonde curly locks, her friends called her "Brownie".

Although Clifton was an actor with no prior directorial experience, Universal gave him the high-profile assignment of directing Bluebird films.

"[50] Clifton's fifth film was Flirting with Death released on September 18, 1917, attempted to cash in on the previous successful pairing of 31-year-old Herbert Rawlinson and Vernon.

[51] In November, Universal released Fear Not featuring Rawlinson, directed by Allen Holubar, and reconnected Vernon with Murdock MacQuarrie (in a minor role).

The back page headline of an article published in The Moving Picture World dated September 15, 1917, read: "Brownie Vernon is a Busy Lady.

Ella Hall, Harry Carey, Louise Lovely, Molly Malone, and Little Zoe Rae now comprise the fixed stars of Butterfly.

[58] As part of the process, the news articles reported that Universal management had asked Vernon to play "atmosphere" in a specific production.

The big question remains, how did Carl Laemmle let bankable talent leave Universal unless there were irreparable conditions beyond mitigation?

[79] The newly formed Australian company, Commonwealth Pictures, and The Carroll Brothers provided funding of £5,600 (approximately $250,000 in today's money) to finance the movie.

[81] Letter to Editor of Los Angeles RecordI have visited many moving picture theaters throughout the country and learned to admire the beautiful girls I have seen on the screen.

His scheme involved meeting multiple young movie starlets, establishing connections with them, proposing marriage, and subsequently crafting in-depth narratives about his encounters following their rejections.

"[87] "Mr. Abe Deuce announced today that, just after he had given up all hope, he had received his answer from Miss Agnes Vernon of Universal Company, and that it had been— yes.

They become a real estate brokerage firm headquartered in La Jolla, California with the following officials:[95] The 1930 and 1940 Censuses also verify the marriage.

[101] Some reviewers have inferred Agnes "Brownie" Vernon changed her stage name to "Bernice Vere" to continue acting in Australian pictures.