Anny Ondra

Anny Ondra
Born	Anna Sophie Ondráková May 15, 1903(1903-05-15) Tarnów, Galicia, Austria–Hungary (now Poland)
Died	Hollenstedt, Germany February 28, 1987 (aged 83)
Years active	1919–1951
Spouse(s)	Carl Lamac (divorced) Max Schmeling (1933–1987)

Anny Ondra (May 15 1903 – February 28 1987) was a Czech film actress.

She was born Anna Sophie Ondráková in Tarnów, Galicia, Austria–Hungary, now Poland, and died in Hollenstedt near Harburg, Germany.

The daughter of a Austro-Hungarian officer, she spent her childhood in Prague. She acted in Czech, Austrian and German comedies in the 1920s, and also in some British dramas, most notably in Alfred Hitchcock's The Manxman and Blackmail (both in 1929). However, when Blackmail was remade with sound, Ondra's thick accent was considered unacceptable, so her dialogue was recorded by actress Joan Barry. Ondra made some forty more films in the sound era before retiring in the late-1930s.

She had a production company with her first husband, director Karel Lamač .^[1] Lamac had directed her in several silent films and also acted with her in films directed by other filmmakers. They worked together, even after their divorce.^[2] On July 6, 1933, she married the boxer Max Schmeling, with whom she appeared in the film Knock-out (1935). Their marriage was a happy one, although childless, and lasted until her death in 1987.

She was given the Honorary German Film Award in 1970.

She was portrayed by Britt Ekland in the television movie Ring of Passion (1978), where the character was named "Amy Ondra Schmeling." She was also portrayed by Peta Wilson in another television movie Joe and Max (2002).^[3]

Ondra was buried in the Saint Andreas Friedhof cemetery in Hollenstedt, Germany. Her husband Schmeling, died in 2005 and was buried next to her.^[4]

References

External links

• Anny Ondra at the Internet Movie Database
• Anny Ondra at the British Film Institute's Screenonline
• Virtual History - Tobacco Cards of Ondra
• Alfred Hitchcock and Anny Ondra in Sound Test for Blackmail

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