简·达维尔1906年初次登台,先后在芝加哥,百老汇演出。1913年进入电影界,出演了她的第一部影片《牧场玫瑰》。但不久后,她又重回舞台,直到1930年才真正开始从事电影工作,在她以后三十年的电影生涯中,出演了二百多部影片。1940年,她由于在《怒火之花》中的出色表演,而获得了第十三届奥斯卡最佳女配角金像奖。
《吉普赛人的灵魂Roma》...MaJoad《欢乐满人间MaryPoppins》...Birdwoman《最后的欢呼LastHurrah,The》...DeliaBoylan《There'sAlwaysTomorrow》...Mrs.Rogers《HittheDeck》...Jenny《恨短情长AffairwithaStranger》...MaStanton《Bigamist,The》...Mrs.Connelley《阳光普照SunShinesBright,The》...AuroraRatchitt《未婚伉俪We'reNotMarried!》...Mrs.Bush《抱歉借过ExcuseMyDust》...Mrs.Belden《LemonDropKid,The》...NellieThursday《十四小时FourteenHours》...《铁窗红泪Caged》...IsolationMatron《原野神驹WagonMaster》...SisterLedeyard《荒漠三雄3Godfathers》...MissFlorie《白发红颜ThreeWiseFools》...SisterMaryBrigid《侠骨柔情MyDarlingClementine》...KateNelson《TenderComrade》...Mrs.Henderson《台口餐厅StageDoorCanteen》...Herself《龙城风云Ox-BowIncident,The》...JennyGrier《BattleofMidway,The》...Narrator《渡过黑暗AllThroughtheNight》...'Ma'Donahue《黑夜煞星DevilandDanielWebster,The》...MaStone《BrighamYoung-Frontiersman》...ElizaKent《愤怒的葡萄,怒火之花,愤怒的葡萄园GrapesofWrath,The》...MaJoad《乱世佳人,飘GonewiththeWind》...Mrs.DollyMerriwether《荡寇志JesseJames》...Mrs.Samuels《雨季来临RainsCame,The》...AuntPhoebe《百老汇小姐LittleMissBroadway》...MissHutchins,OrphanageMatron《可怜的富家小姑娘PoorLittleRichGirl》...Woodward《一月船长CaptainJanuary》...TheWidowMrs.ElizaCroft《CurlyTop》...Mrs.HenriettaDenham《WonderBar》...Baroness《假绅士JimmytheGent》...Ettienne《放荡的女皇ScarletEmpress,The》...MissCardell《Fashionsof1934》...CustomeratMaisonElegance《亮眼睛BrightEyes》...Mrs.Higgins《一夜爱情OneNightofLove》...Mrs.Barrett,Mary'sMother《BedofRoses》...Prisonmatron《爱情无计DesignforLiving》...Curtis'Housekeeper《RomanScandals》...RomanSpaManager《MurdersintheZoo》...BanquetGuest《血洒后街BackStreet》...Mrs.Schmidt