By the mid-1920s she was past the age of 30 and although still given top female billing, Brockwell performed mainly in supporting roles. Regarded as one of the finest character actresses of the day who not only adapted to sound films but excelled in them, her first appearance in a "talkie" came in 1928 in "Lights of New York". Her performance received strong reviews at the time of the film's release as well as by present-day critics of the preserved film.