Ondra, Anny (1903–1987)

Polish-born film actress. Born Anna Sophie Ondrakowa on May 15, 1903, in Tarnow, Poland; died in 1987; married director Karel Lamac (divorced 1933); married Max Schmeling (a boxer), in 1933.

Selected filmography:

Woman with Small Feet (Czech, 1919); Song of Gold (Czech, 1920); Dratenicek (Czech, 1920); Gilly in Prague (Czech, 1921); Zigeunerliebe (Aus-Ger., 1922); Der Mann ohne Herz (Aus-Ger., 1923); Ich liebe Dich (Aus-Ger., 1925); Der erste Kuss (Aus-Ger., 1928); God's Clay (UK, 1928); Blackmail (UK, 1929); Glorious Youth (UK, 1929); The Manxman (UK, 1929); Das Mädel aus USA (Ger., 1930); Die grosse Sehnsucht (Ger., 1930); Eine Freundin so goldig wie Du (Ger., 1930); Mamsell Nitouche (Ger., 1931); Die Fledermaus (Ger., 1931); Baby (Ger., 1932); Kiki (Ger., 1932); Eine Nacht im Paradies (Ger., 1932); Die Tochter des Regiments (Ger., 1933); Klein Dorrit (Ger., 1934); Polenblut (Ger.-Czech., 1934); Knock-Out (Ger., 1935); Der Junge Graf (Ger., 1935); Ein Màdel vom Ballett (Ger., 1936); Donogoo Tonka (Ger., 1936); Der unwiderst Ehliche (The Irresistible Man, Ger., 1937); Narren im Schnee (Ger., 1938); Der Gasmann (Ger., 1941); Himmel wir erben ein Schloss (Ger., 1943); Schön muss man sein (Ger., 1951); Zürcher Velobung (Ger., 1957).

Trained as a dancer, Polish-born actress Anny Ondra began her career in 1919, in the Czechoslovakian film Woman with Small Feet, and quickly gained popularity in both comic and serious roles. During the 1920s, she formed a production company with director-producer Karel Lamac, whom she also married. Ondra made a number of films under Lamac's direction, and also gave a memorable performance in Alfred Hitchcock's early talkie Blackmail (1929), although her heavily accented voice had to be dubbed. Ondra divorced Lumac in 1933, to marry boxer Max Schmeling.