[5] After briefly relocating to San Francisco in the early 1910s,[citation needed] she acted in musical comedies on stage[6] before she made the transition to films; first appearing in one-reel Western shorts with actor and director Broncho Billy Anderson.

[citation needed] By 1912, Little appeared regularly in Thomas H. Ince-directed Western-themed serials, often as an Indian princess and usually with Francis Ford, Grace Cunard, Olive Tell, Jack Conway, Ethel Grandin, Mildred Harris, and early cowboy star Art Acord for Essanay Studios.

Her other notable co-stars at this time included Harold Lockwood, Jane Wolfe, William Worthington, Tom Chatterton, and actor/director Frank Borzage.

Most notably among her dramatic roles was the early American cinematic Civil War serials directed by William J. Bauman and Thomas Ince.

[citation needed] By 1917, Little signed to Paramount Pictures and was often paired with highly successful actor Wallace Reid in a number of popular dramas and comedies.