Silent movie sirens from the early 1900s have been granted another moment in the spotlight thanks to an artist who has breathed new life into their performances.

A series of black and white portraits of the once-famous movie stars has been colourised by artist Matt Loughrey, of My Colorful Past, based in Westport,Ireland, in order to celebrate their contribution to motion pictures, and raise new awareness of their talents in the modern age.

'These are the faces of the motion picture, the advent of the moving image on the big screen,' Mr Loughrey, 39, said of the project and its stars.

'These are expertly taken portraits, of people that defined the moving image as an entertainment medium.

'There's something about glass negatives that makes them superior in tone, often far more arresting than the results achieved with the modern camera. All of the while I think the people that feature warranted being seen in colour as a reminder that truth and justice were always sought.'

Mr Loughrey said he added colour to the images using WACOM Mobile Studio Pro as well as a dedicated algorithm written specifically in order to colourise textured materials.

The original black and white photographs were expertly colorized by artist Matt Loughrey. Pictured, Theda Bara, one of the most popular actresses of the silent era

Spot the difference: The images of the silent movie stars were carefully colourised to give them new life and meaning

Theda Bara

This actress is considered by many to be the original 'Vamp' thanks to her sexually dominating roles.

She is one of the most famous silent film stars to ever live - she never appeared in a sound production - with a peak between 1914 and 1919. Some of her best-known films include A Fool There Was and The Devil's Daughter.

She made more than 40 films between 1914 and 1926, but most were lost in the 1937 Fox vault fire.

Matt Loughrey's colorized portrait of the star was originally taken while Bara was taking on the role of the eponymous character in Carmen, a now lost Raoul Walsh film released in 1915.

Annette Benson, a leading lady in 1920s British silent films, was given all the more depth courtesy of the colourising treatment

Annette Benson

This British star of the silent era had her peak in the 1920s, with roles in films such as Anthony Asquith's Shooting Stars and Confetti.

Benson's career tailed off with the arrival of sound film and she made her last screen appearance in 1931.

Her picture features her role of Mae Feather in Shooting Stars, a wife who plots to murder her husband in order to run off to Hollywood with her lover.

'I think all aspects of history deserve to be highlighted better,' the artist said. Pictured, Jacqueline Logan

Stand out: Many of the images appear all the more captivating in colour

Jacqueline Logan

This Texas native worked a reporter before she got her start on Broadway and later transitioned onto the screen, where she was best known as the star of Footloose Widows and The King of Kings.

Evelyn Nesbit was an actress and model whose face was everywhere in the early 20th century, thanks to her phenomenal popularity within the magazine industry

Evelyn Nesbit

Evelyn Nesbit was just 15 when she began modelling in New York City, and she looked even younger, a quality which helped her to quickly skyrocket to popularity in the magazine industry.

The image of her copper-brown tresses and pale skin were plastered on postcards, beer trays and tobacco cards.

Her often sexual poses earned her the title of the world's first pin-up girl, and she later worked with one of the first fashion photographers, Joel Feder as a live model – staged in various costumes, such as a wood nymph, gypsy, geisha, and Grecian goddess.

From there, the transition into chorus girl and actress was an easy one, starring in a number of silent films between 1914 and 1922.

The portrait of Nesbit included in the collection was taken in her modelling days in 1903 by famed photographer at the time, Gertrude Käsebier.

A portrait of Norma Talmadge, a silver screen icon in the early 1920s, is part of the collection

Mr Loughrey, of My Colorful Past, which is based in Westport, Ireland, called the images a 'telling of creativity, aspirations and performance.' Pictured, Norma Talmadge

Norma Talmadge

With a peak lasting more than a decade, Norma Talmadge was one of the biggest film icons of the 1920s. She starred in dozens of films, including box office smashes like Smilin’ Through and The Lady. Her younger sister, Constance Talmadge, was also a film star.

She only produced two so-called 'talkies' but they weren't welcomed with much success, leading her to retire from film in 1930.

In the portrait series, Talmadge is seen in one image as she was in 1928's The Woman Disputed, which was her final silent film.

Mr Loughrey said he added colour to the images using WACOM Mobile Studio Pro as well as a dedicated algorithm. Pictured, Ina Claire

Ina Claire

With an early start in vaudeville, Ina became known as not only a blonde beauty, but a comedic artist.

Making her film debut in 1915 with The Wild Goose Chase, Ina's career spanned all the way to 1940s, with her best known role being the Duchess in Ninotchka, in which she starred opposite Greta Garbo.

Mary Pickford, one of the original 36 founders of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences

Mary Pickford

On top of being known as 'America's Sweetheart' and 'Queen of the Movies' for her many successful roles on screen, Mary Pickford was a trailblazer in the film industry.

She founded the Pickford-Fairbanks Studio and the United Artists film studio as well as becoming one of the 36 founders of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

She is seen in the portrait series lying on a wood floor in a green dress, with her curls cascading down her shoulders in a scene from Tess of the Storm Country.

'History can be revealed and that is exactly what the 'My Colorful Past' project is about, it quite literally changes perceptions for those that see it,' the artist added. Pictured, Louise Beaudet

Louise Beaudet

Starring in an incredible 66 silent films, Louise Beaudet's career as an actress, singer and dancer spanned five decades.

Beaudet's last appearance on screen came in 1926 at the age of 67 although she continued to perform in Broadway and theatre until 1934.

Mr Loughrey's chosen portrait of Beaudet shows her in a promotional shot from back in 1891, around the time she was starring in a number of operas.

Other striking shots show 'The Girl with the Bee-Stung Lips' Mae Murray (pictured)

Mae Murray

Known as The Girl with the Bee-Stung Lips, Mae Murray was a stage actress before she made her film debut with To Have and to Hold in 1916.

She quickly rocketed to fame and was even at one point the highest-earning actress in all of Hollywood.

She hit her peak in the early 1920s, but moved into decline when sound productions became popular.

With a shot taken in 1913, the portait series image sees the starlet just before silent film launched her into cinematic history books.