The Help: 5 Servants In Movies

The role of an underling like a maid, butler, or servant may not seem like an exciting one, but a skilled screenwriter and actor can make that role come to life and help define what a move is all about. The actor playing the role of the servant may know just what the head of the household is thinking. A look, a nod of the head or the clearing of the throat can be a signal that only the servant understands. A good actor can use these nuances to take the role and run with it, and the five servants in movies on this list are among the most noteworthy in history.

Prissy, “Gone With the Wind.”

Played memorably by Hattie McDaniel, Prissy was the House Servant in the 1939 classic. Her character was constantly offering advice and she claimed to be an expert on midwifery. However, when Melanie is about to deliver her baby, Prissy comes clean with one of the most famous quotes in movie history:  “I don’t know nothin‘ about birthin‘ no babies.”