Arbenina, Stella (1885–1976)

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Arbenina, Stella (1885–1976)

Russian-born actress. Born Sept 27, 1885, in St. Petersburg, Russia; died April 26, 1976, in London, England; great-granddau. of Lord Ellenborough; m. Baron Paul Meyendorff.

Made professional stage debut as Catherine in The Storm (1918); arrested and imprisoned by the Bolsheviks (1918), escaped to Estonia; played over 100 parts in Estonia (1919–21); appeared with Max Reinhardt's company in Berlin (1921–22); made London debut as Antoinette de Mauban in The Prisoner of Zenda (1923); other parts include title role in Yvelle, Elmire in Tartuffe, Natasia Philipovna in The Idiot, The Mother Superior in The Painted Veil, Joanne de Beaudricourt in The Wandering Jew; made film debut in Der Brennende Acker (1926).

See also autobiography Through Terror to Freedom (1929).