Tamara Desni
Encyclopedia
Tamara Desni was a German
-born British
actress.
, Tamara Desni was born in Berlin
.
She studied ballet as a child and appeared on stage and in several German films. She married a dentist while a teenager, although they divorced before Desni landed her first London acting role in 1931 in the musical White Horse Inn. She followed this up with another leading role in the musical Casanova, featuring music by Johann Strauss, Jr.
Desni's film career took off in 1933 with Falling for You
, and continued through 1950. Other film credits include Dick Barton at Bay, The Torso Murder Mystery, Fire Over England
and Hell's Cargo.
, on the set of Blue Smoke
in 1934. They married in 1936, but divorced in 1940. She next married film producer Bill Gillett, though he did not survive World War II
. Her fourth marriage was to the Canadian-born actor Raymond Lovell
in 1947, the two separating some time later.
In France, she met Albert Lavagna, a builder. They built the popular inn L'Auberge Chez Tamara, marrying in 1956, shortly after Desni discovered she was pregnant for the first time. They had two daughters.
, aged 94.
Russians
The Russian people are an East Slavic ethnic group native to Russia, speaking the Russian language and primarily living in Russia and neighboring countries....
-born British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
actress.
Biography
Born as Tamara Brodsky, the daughter of actress Xenia DesniXenia Desni
Xenia Desni was a Ukrainian actress of the silent screen era.-Career:Desni began her successful career at the beginning of the 1920s with the movie Sappho, followed by a number of successful productions such as Der Sprung ins Leben, Die Prinzessin Suwarin, Wilhelm Tell, Die Andere, Ein Walzertraum,...
, Tamara Desni was born in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
.
She studied ballet as a child and appeared on stage and in several German films. She married a dentist while a teenager, although they divorced before Desni landed her first London acting role in 1931 in the musical White Horse Inn. She followed this up with another leading role in the musical Casanova, featuring music by Johann Strauss, Jr.
Desni's film career took off in 1933 with Falling for You
Falling for You (1933 film)
Falling for You is a 1933 comedy film directed by Robert Stevenson and Jack Hulbert. It stars Jack Hulbert and Cicely Courtneidge.-Cast:*Jack Hulbert as Jack Hazeldon*Cicely Courtneidge as Minnie Tucker*Tamara Desni as Sondra von Moyden...
, and continued through 1950. Other film credits include Dick Barton at Bay, The Torso Murder Mystery, Fire Over England
Fire Over England
Fire Over England is a 1937 London Film Productions film drama, notable for providing the first pairing of Laurence Olivier and Vivien Leigh. It was directed by William K. Howard and written by Clemence Dane from the novel Fire Over England by A. E. W. Mason. Leigh's performance in the movie...
and Hell's Cargo.
Marriages
She met her second husband, actor Bruce SetonBruce Seton
Major Sir Bruce Lovat Seton of Abercorn, 11th Baronet , better known as Bruce Seton, was a British actor and soldier....
, on the set of Blue Smoke
Blue Smoke
Blue Smoke, also known as Nora Roberts' Blue Smoke, is a 2007 made-for-tv movie directed by David Carson, which stars Alicia Witt, Matthew Settle, and Scott Bakula. The film is based on the Nora Roberts novel of the same name. And is part of the Nora Roberts 2007 movie collection, which also...
in 1934. They married in 1936, but divorced in 1940. She next married film producer Bill Gillett, though he did not survive World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Her fourth marriage was to the Canadian-born actor Raymond Lovell
Raymond Lovell
Raymond Lovell was a Canadian-born film actor who performed in British produced films. He mainly played supporting roles, and was often seen as slightly pompous characters...
in 1947, the two separating some time later.
In France, she met Albert Lavagna, a builder. They built the popular inn L'Auberge Chez Tamara, marrying in 1956, shortly after Desni discovered she was pregnant for the first time. They had two daughters.
Death
Desni's health began declining while in her late eighties. She died, a widow, on February 7, 2008 in Valence d'Agen, FranceFrance
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, aged 94.
Filmography
- 1931: Der Schrecken der Garnison
- 1931: Im Geheimdienst
- 1933: Falling for You
- 1934: Forbidden Territory
- 1934: Jack Ahoy
- 1934: Bypass to Happiness
- 1934: The Diplomatic LoverThe Diplomatic LoverThe Diplomatic Lover is a 1934 British musical romance film directed by Anthony Kimmins and starring Harold French, Tamara Desni and Davy Burnaby. It was adapted from the play Der Frauendiplomat by Curt J. Braun and E.B. Leuthege...
- 1935: Dark WorldDark World (1935 film)Dark World is a British film directed by Bernard Vorhaus and starring Tamara Desni, Leon Quartermaine, and Googie Withers. The film, released by Fox Film Corporation, is now considered a lost film.-Cast:* Tamara Desni as Birgitta...
- 1935: Blue Smoke
- 1935: McGlusky the Sea Rover
- 1936: Love in Exile
- 1937: Fire Over EnglandFire Over EnglandFire Over England is a 1937 London Film Productions film drama, notable for providing the first pairing of Laurence Olivier and Vivien Leigh. It was directed by William K. Howard and written by Clemence Dane from the novel Fire Over England by A. E. W. Mason. Leigh's performance in the movie...
- 1937: The SqueakerThe Squeaker (1937 film)The Squeaker is a 1937 British crime film directed by William K. Howard and starring Edmund Lowe, Sebastian Shaw and Ann Todd. It is based on the novel The Squeaker by Edgar Wallace...
- 1939: Traitor SpyTraitor SpyTraitor Spy is a 1939 British mystery film directed by Walter Summers and starring Bruce Cabot, Marta Labarr, Tamara Desni and Edward Lexy. -Cast:* Bruce Cabot - Ted Healey* Marta Labarr - Freyda Healey* Tamara Desni - Marie Dufreyene...
- 1940: His Brother's Keeper
- 1945: Flight from FollyFlight from FollyFlight from Folly is a 1945 British musical comedy film directed by Herbert Mason and starring Patricia Kirkwood and Hugh Sinclair, with music from Edmundo Ros and his famous Rumba Band...
- 1946: Send for Paul TempleSend for Paul TempleSend for Paul Temple is a 1946 British crime film directed by John Argyle and starring Anthony Hulme, Joy Shelton and Tamara Desni. Paul Temple is called in after a major diamond theft. It was the first of four film adaptations of the Paul Temple stories, with John Bentley taking over the role in...
- 1947: The Hills of DonegalThe Hills of Donegal (film)The Hills of Donegal is a 1947 British drama film directed by John Argyle and starring Dinah Sheridan, James Etherington and Moore Marriott. A young Irish woman abandons a promising career as singer to get married, but soon discovers her husband is not the man she thought he was.-Cast:* Dinah...
- 1950: Dick Barton at Bay