Linda Christian facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Linda Christian
Christian, c. 1948
Born	Blanca Rosa Henrietta Stella Welter Vorhauer (1923-11-13)November 13, 1923 Tampico, Tamaulipas, Mexico
Died	July 22, 2011(2011-07-22) (aged 87) Palm Desert, California, U.S.
Nationality	Mexican
Other names	Linda Christian Power, Linda Welter
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1943–1988
Spouse(s)	Tyrone Power ​ ​ (m. 1949; div. 1956)​ Edmund Purdom ​ ​ (m. 1962; div. 1963)​
Children	Romina Power Taryn Power
Family	Ariadne Welter (sister)

Linda Christian (born Blanca Rosa Henrietta Stella Welter Vorhauer; November 13, 1923 – July 22, 2011) was a Mexican actress. She appeared in many films in Mexico and Hollywood. Her acting career was most successful in the 1940s and 1950s.

Linda Christian played Mara in the 1948 Tarzan film Tarzan and the Mermaids. She is also famous for being the first "Bond girl." She appeared in a 1954 TV show based on the James Bond novel Casino Royale.

Early Life and Languages

Linda Christian was born in Tampico, Mexico. Her father, Gerardus Jacob Welter, was a Dutch engineer. Her mother, Blanca Rosa Vorhauer, was Mexican with Spanish, German, and French family.

Linda's family moved around a lot when she was young. They lived in places like South America, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. Because of this, Linda learned to speak many languages. She could speak French, German, Dutch, Spanish, English, and Italian fluently. She also knew a little Arabic and Russian.

Linda had three younger siblings. Her sister, Ariadna Gloria Welter, also became an actress. She had two brothers, Gerardus Jacob Welter and Edward Albert Welter.

Becoming an Actress

When she was young, Linda Christian wanted to become a doctor. After finishing high school, she had a lucky meeting with the famous actor Errol Flynn. He convinced her to change her mind about becoming a doctor.

Errol Flynn encouraged her to move to Hollywood and try acting. Soon after arriving in Hollywood, a secretary for film producer Louis B. Mayer saw her. She was at a fashion show in Beverly Hills. Linda was offered a seven-year contract with MGM, a big movie studio, and she accepted.

Errol Flynn helped her choose her stage name, Linda Christian. He got the name "Christian" from Fletcher Christian, a character in the story Mutiny on the Bounty. Errol Flynn had played Fletcher Christian in a movie.

Christian with Andrea Palma in Tarzan and the Mermaids (1948)

Linda Christian's first movie was the musical comedy Up in Arms in 1944. She starred with Danny Kaye and Dinah Shore. This was also Danny Kaye's first film.

After that, she appeared in Holiday in Mexico (1946) and Green Dolphin Street (1947). One of her most famous films was Tarzan and the Mermaids (1948).

In 1954, Linda Christian became the first "Bond girl" on screen. She played Valerie Mathis in a TV version of Casino Royale. This was eight years before Ursula Andress became a Bond girl in a movie.

In 2001, Linda Christian received a Golden Palm Star. This star is on the Palm Springs Walk of Stars, honoring her contributions to entertainment.

Family Life

Christian in 1966

Linda Christian became very well-known because she married the popular actor Tyrone Power. They were married from 1949 to 1956. Their wedding took place in Rome, Italy.

Linda and Tyrone had two daughters: Romina Power, who became a singer, and Taryn Power, who became an actress. Romina Power is famous as half of the Italian singing group Al Bano and Romina Power.

After her divorce from Tyrone Power, Linda Christian was seen with Spanish racing driver Alfonso de Portago. They were photographed together at the 1957 Mille Miglia car race. Alfonso de Portago died in a racing accident shortly after this photo was taken.

Linda Christian later married British actor Edmund Purdom. They were married from 1962 to 1963.

Linda and Tyrone Power were offered chances to work together in movies. One big chance was in 1953 for the movie From Here to Eternity. However, Tyrone Power decided not to do the film. The main roles went to Donna Reed and Montgomery Clift instead.

Later Life and Death

Linda Christian passed away on July 22, 2011. She was 87 years old.

Selected Films

See also

In Spanish: Linda Christian para niños