Steffi Duna

Steffi Duna (8 February 1910 – 22 April 1992) was a Hungarian born film actress popular in American and British films during the 1930s. The daughter of a winemaker, Duna was 5'2" tall. Her ethnicity was Czechoslovakian.

Hungarian Dancer

Born Stephanie Berindey in Budapest, Hungary, Duna first attracted attention as a thirteen year old ballet dancer in Europe. Duna made her first stage appearance performing dramatized fairy tales at the Children's Theater of Budapest. Initially opposed to the idea, her father sent her to the best schools in the Hungarian capitol to learn dancing.

Movie Actress

When she first came to Hollywood in 1934, Duna could not speak a word of English. She made up her mind to learn quickly. Directors advised her to stay away from her Hungarian friends to speed up her learning of English.

During the 1930s Duna played a variety of nationalities but, despite her European background, was often cast as fiery Latin femme fatales in films that made full use of her exotic and glamorous persona. She made her film debut in The Indiscretions of Eve (1932) in the starring role (along with Jessica Tandy also making her debut). Signed by RKO Radio, Duna played Guninana, the Eskimo wife of Francis Lederer, in Man of Two Worlds (1934). Also Czech, Lederer had performed with Duna in the Berlin, Germany presentation of Die Wunderbar.

The films in which she played lead roles such as Panama Lady (1939) with Lucille Ball, were popular but did not make her a major star. Her best remembered films are arguably some of those in which she played key supporting roles, such as Anthony Adverse (1936) and Waterloo Bridge (1940). In Anthony Adverse Duna performed as a halfcaste in the African sequence.

Marriage

Duna was married first to the actor John Carroll. The two performed together in Hi, Gaucho (1935). They had a daughter named Juliena Lefaye. They divorced in 1938. Later Duna married actor Dennis O'Keefe.

She retired from films in 1940, and died in Beverly Hills, California in 1992.

References

• Bismarck Tribune, "Steffi Duna Important Character In Picture", Wednesday, November 20, 1935, Page 8.
• Hammond Times, "Hollywood", March 16, 1939, Page 35.
• Oakland Tribune, "Money-Important In Marriage, Or Is It?", Sunday, November 26, 1939, Page 79.
• Salisbury Times, "Dennis O'Keefe Picks That As Official Name", Monday Evening, August 28, 1944, Page 5.