Actress, Producer, Director, and Author. Best know for her work in silent films in Germany in the 1910s and 1920s, she was one of the top box office draws in Germany during that time. Born Vernal Edna Andrews, she was the daughter of vaudeville and circus performers and got her start in vaudeville at an early age. Touring Europe as a stage actress, she was stranded in Germany in 1914 when World War I broke out. She then began her career in German silent films. After the US entered the war in 1917, she was accused of spying and was rescued from this by the nephew of the Austrian Empress, Baron Friedrich von und zu Weichs, who she married. After his death in combat, she remained in Germany. She was almost killed in 1922 in the airplane crash that killed German ace Lothar von Richthofen (the Red baron's brother), who was the pilot. She founded her own movie company in Germany, which she had to leave behind due to World War II, and also worked in radio and television. Once accused of being a spy for Germany as she had known a young Goebbels when he was working as a playwright, she actually made many propaganda broadcasts for the Allies during the war. She was married 4 times in all, but died childless.
Actress, Producer, Director, and Author. Best know for her work in silent films in Germany in the 1910s and 1920s, she was one of the top box office draws in Germany during that time. Born Vernal Edna Andrews, she was the daughter of vaudeville and circus performers and got her start in vaudeville at an early age. Touring Europe as a stage actress, she was stranded in Germany in 1914 when World War I broke out. She then began her career in German silent films. After the US entered the war in 1917, she was accused of spying and was rescued from this by the nephew of the Austrian Empress, Baron Friedrich von und zu Weichs, who she married. After his death in combat, she remained in Germany. She was almost killed in 1922 in the airplane crash that killed German ace Lothar von Richthofen (the Red baron's brother), who was the pilot. She founded her own movie company in Germany, which she had to leave behind due to World War II, and also worked in radio and television. Once accused of being a spy for Germany as she had known a young Goebbels when he was working as a playwright, she actually made many propaganda broadcasts for the Allies during the war. She was married 4 times in all, but died childless.
Bio by: Kenneth Gilbert
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