Biography

She was not regarded as an Aryan and she went to England where she took part in two movies. When there were no other engagements she returned to Germany despite the bad conditions, but could only appear in movies sporadically.

Daughter of Ida Perry.

German leading actress of the silent screen, trained at the Berliner Staatstheater. A prominent stage actress, she was particularly acclaimed for her role as Polly in Brecht's "Threepenny Opera'. In films from 1920, she often acted alongside leading stars of the era. Her biggest hit in sound films was the role of Nina in Ein Lied geht um die Welt (1933), after which her career went into decline. As a non-Aryan, she found roles in Nazi Germany difficult to come by. She made a brief comeback after the war as the female lead of the Defa production Familie Benthin (1950), but was thereafter only seen in supporting roles.

Her fortunes were somewhat better on the stage where she worked until 1950.

On 21 February 1927, she created the role of Mascha in the world premiere of Der Zarewitsch by Franz Lehar at the Deutsche Künstler Theater in Berlin, alongside Rita Georg and Richard Tauber, with the composer conducting.