Burke was signed for the movies and made her cinematic debut in the title role of "Peggy" (1915). Her success was phenomenal, and she was soon earning what was reputedly the highest salary of any film actress up to that time. She followed her first feature with the 15-part serial "Gloria's Romance" (1916), another popular and critically acclaimed vehicle. By 1917, she was a favorite with silent-movie fans, rivaling Mary Pickford, Lillian Gish, Clara Kimball Young and Irene Castle. She starred primarily in provocative society dramas and comedies, similar in theme to "The "Mind-the-Paint" Girl", her most successful American play. Her girlish charm rivaled her acting ability, and as she dressed to the hilt in fashionable gowns, furs and jewelry, her clothes sense also won her the devotion of female audiences. Among the films in which she appeared during this period were "Arms and the Girl" (1917), "The Mysterious Miss Terry", "Let's Get a Divorce" (1918), "Good Gracious, Annabelle" (1919), "Away Goes Prudence" (1920) and "The Frisky Mrs. Johnson" (1920).