Olga Baclanova facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Olga Baclanova
Baclanova in 1930
Born	Olga Vladimirovna Baklanova (1893-08-19)19 August 1893 Moscow, Russian Empire
Died	6 September 1974(1974-09-06) (aged 81) Vevey, Switzerland
Occupation	Actress radio host singer
Years active	1914–1925 (Russia), 1925–1955 (U.S.)
Spouse(s)	Vladimir Zoppi ​ ​ (m. 1922; div. 1929)​ Nicholas Soussanin ​ ​ (m. 1929; div. 1935)​ Richard Davis ​ (m. 1937)​
Children	2
Relatives	Gleb Baklanov (brother)

Olga Vladimirovna Baklanova (Russian: О́льга Влади́мировна Бакла́нова; born August 19, 1893 – died September 6, 1974) was a famous actress. She was born in Russia but became well-known in Hollywood movies and on stage. People often called her the "Russian Tigress" because of her strong and exciting roles.

Olga Baclanova started her acting career in Russia. She appeared in silent films from 1914 to 1918. She later moved to the United States in 1925. There, she performed on stage and in Hollywood films. She became famous for her roles in the silent film The Man Who Laughs and the horror movie Freaks.

Early Life and Russian Career

Olga Vladimirovna Baklanova was born in Moscow, Russia. Her exact birth year is sometimes debated, but it is often listed as 1893. Her mother, Alexandra, was also an actress in early Russian films. Olga had six brothers and sisters, including Gleb Baklanov, who later became a Soviet general and a hero in World War II.

Olga studied acting at the Cherniavsky Institute. In 1912, she was accepted into the famous Moscow Art Theatre. She worked there with other talented actors like Maria Ouspenskaya.

For about ten years, Olga acted in many Russian films and performed a lot on stage. She traveled to many countries, showing her talent in plays by famous writers like Ibsen, Chekhov, and Turgenev. She also performed in Moscow Art Theatre productions of plays by Shakespeare and Dickins.

In the 1930s, Olga Baclanova used her vocal training from the Moscow Art Theatre. She had her own radio show called Olga Baclanova's Continental Review. She often sang songs in Russian on other radio programs. She even released an album of her songs in 1946.

In 1925, Olga received a special award called "Merited Artist of the Republic". This was the highest honor for artists in the Soviet Union. She appeared in about 17 films during her career in Russia.

American Career

Olga Baclanova (1922)

Olga Baclanova came to New York City in 1925. She was part of the Moscow Art Theatre's touring show of Lysistrata. The next year, when the rest of the group went back to Russia, Olga decided to stay in America.

She first appeared in a play called The Miracle on the West Coast. Then, in 1927, she got a small role in her first American film, The Dove. Olga was a tall blonde actress, and she quickly became popular in American silent movies. She had great success in The Docks of New York in 1928, which was directed by Josef von Sternberg. Later that year, she played the Duchess Josiana in The Man Who Laughs. Her character was a strong and mysterious woman who was interested in the hero, played by Conrad Veidt.

Olga Baclanova as "Lou" in The Docks of New York (1928).

When movies started having sound, it was a bit difficult for Olga. She had a strong Russian accent, so she didn't get as many main roles. Her career seemed to be slowing down. But then, she was offered the role of Cleopatra in Tod Browning's film Freaks (1932). In this horror movie, she played a mean circus performer. The film was very unusual because it featured real carnival performers. It was quite controversial and was only shown for a short time. It took 30 years for Freaks to become a cult film, meaning it gained a strong following over time. Even though Freaks became famous, it didn't restart Olga's film career, which ended in 1943.

Olga Baclanova continued to work a lot on stage. She performed in London's West End and in New York for about ten years, starting in the mid-1930s. In 1943, she appeared in a play called Claudia in Seattle, Washington.

Personal Life

Olga Baclanova was married three times. Her first husband was a lawyer named Vladimir Zoppi, and they had a son together. Her second husband was actor Nicholas Soussanin, and they also had a son. The birth of her second son in 1930 was even reported in the newspapers. Her third husband was Richard Davis, who owned a movie theater in New York. In 1931, Olga became an American citizen.

Later Years

After she retired from acting, Olga moved to Switzerland. She passed away on September 6, 1974, at the age of 81. She was buried in the Corsier cemetery in Corsier-sur-Vevey.

Filmography

Russian Films

United States Silent Films

United States Sound Films

Stage Roles (US and UK)

• The Miracle (1926)
• The Farewell Supper (1929)
• Silent Witness (1931)
• Grand Hotel (1932)
• Twentieth Century (1932)
• The Cat and the Fiddle (1932)
• $25 an Hour (1933)
• Murder at the Vanities (1933)
• Mahogany Hill (1934)
• Going Place (1936)
• Idiot's Delight (1936)
• Twentieth Century (revival, 1937)
• Claudia (1941–1943)
• The Cat and the Fiddle (revival, 1945)
• Louisiana Lady (1947)
• A Copy of Madame Aupic (1947)

See also

In Spanish: Olga Baklánova para niños