Life
The daughter of an Austro-Hungarian officer, she spent her childhood in Prague. She acted in Czech, Austrian and German comedies in the 1920s, and in some British dramas, most notably in Alfred Hitchcock's The Manxman and Blackmail (both 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 formed a production company, Ondra-Lamac-Films, with her first husband, director Karel Lamač. Lamac directed her in several silent films, acted with her in films directed by other filmmakers, and continued to work together after their divorce.
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. (Ondra reportedly had a miscarriage after a car accident.) They were married until her death in 1987.
Ondra was portrayed by Britt Ekland in the television movie Ring of Passion (1978), wherein the character was named "Amy Ondra Schmeling". She was also portrayed by Peta Wilson in another television movie Joe and Max (2002).
Ondra was buried in the Saint Andreas Friedhof cemetery in Hollenstedt, Germany. Her husband Schmeling died in 2005 and was buried next to her.
Read more about this topic: Anny Ondra
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