Marlene Dietrich
Marlene Dietrich, born Marie Magdalene Dietrich on December 27, 1901, in Schöneberg, Berlin, was a renowned German-American actress and singer. Her career spanned nearly seven decades, during which she became one of the most glamorous film stars in the world. Dietrich's father, a Royal Prussian police officer, died when she was young, and her mother remarried a cavalry officer. Initially aspiring to be a concert violinist, Dietrich shifted her focus to acting and modeling after an alleged wrist injury.
In the 1920s, Dietrich began her career in Berlin, performing on stage and in silent films. Her breakthrough came with her role as Lola Lola in Josef von Sternberg's "The Blue Angel" (1930), which led to international acclaim and a contract with Paramount Pictures. She collaborated with von Sternberg on several iconic films, including "Morocco" (1930), "Shanghai Express" (1932), and "The Devil Is a Woman" (1935).
During World War II, Dietrich was a prominent entertainer in the United States, known for her humanitarian efforts and support for exiles. She refused to work in Nazi Germany and was recognized for her contributions to the war effort. Post-war, she continued to act in notable films such as Billy Wilder's "A Foreign Affair" (1948) and Orson Welles's "Touch of Evil" (1958), while also touring as a live-show performer.
Dietrich married Rudolf Sieber in 1923, and they had one daughter, Maria Riva. Although separated in 1929, they remained married until Sieber's death in 1976. Dietrich passed away on May 6, 1992, in Paris, France, at the age of 90. Her legacy endures, with the American Film Institute naming her the ninth greatest female screen legend of classic Hollywood cinema.
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