She is known for her collaborations with directors D. W. Griffith and Cecil B. DeMille, and was a founding member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Abbie Jean MacPherson[1] was born in Boston, Massachusetts to a wealthy family of European (Spanish, Scottish and French) descent.

[1] As a teenager, she was sent to Mademoiselle DeJacque's school in Paris, but returned to the United States when her family could no longer afford the fees.

[2] MacPherson earned a degree from the Kenwood Institute in Chicago and began working as a dancer and stage performer.

MacPherson continued working for the Universal Company for two years, until her failing health caused her to leave.

[4] Upon her recovery, MacPherson began working for Lasky Studios; however, she quickly sought out Cecil B. DeMille to see if she could act in his films.

[citation needed] DeMille and MacPherson formed a partnership that some scholars consider to be one of the industry's most influential and long-lasting.