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Adina MandlovaCzech film actress
Date of Birth: 28.01.1910
Country:  Czech |
Content:
- Biography of Adina Mandlova
- Change of Life
- Acting Career
- Peak of Success
- War and Controversies
- Later Life and Legacy
Biography of Adina Mandlova
Early Life and EducationAdina Mandlova was born as the fourth child and only daughter in the family of Jan Mandl, a railway inspector in Czechoslovakia. From a young age, her father introduced her to the world of art, music, and theater. Adina showed exceptional talent in playing the piano and had a passion for theater, which was thriving before the outbreak of World War II.
Change of Life
When Adina was eight years old, her father unexpectedly passed away. This event deeply impacted her, leading her to abandon music and focus on her studies. Her mother often entertained gentlemen at home, which freed Adina from many responsibilities, allowing her to pursue her own desires. At the age of 14, a new man entered their lives, who was meant to become a father figure for the children. However, due to constant clashes with Adina, she was sent to a boarding school in Paris.
Acting Career
The Parisian boarding school provided Adina with an excellent education, emphasizing foreign languages and literature alongside general subjects. Despite her mother's efforts to give her a proper education, Adina was determined to become an actress. After a brief period as a model, she met the relatively unknown director Hugo Haas and starred in his film "Girl, don't say no!". Through this partnership, Adina gained recognition from famous producers and directors, furthering her acting career. She quickly became the most recognizable actress in Czechoslovakia, known for her scandals and romantic entanglements.
Peak of Success
Adina's career reached its pinnacle with the film "Kristián" in 1939. She gained popularity through movies such as "Virginity," "Morality Above All," "Minister's Girlfriend," "The Adventurer's Hard Life," and "Night Butterfly." Before the war, Adina married the renowned artist Zdenek Tůma, but he tragically committed suicide shortly after their wedding. She later had a relationship with Vladimir Šmeral, with whom she had a stillborn daughter.
War and Controversies
Throughout her life, Adina had a deep love for Germany. When invited there before the war, she eagerly accepted. During the war, she starred in several German films and garnered immense popularity among German officers. Adina's post-war adventures could fill a book. She married an Englishman to obtain a visa and citizenship but ended the marriage shortly after. She then married a wealthy English businessman, which lasted until the early 1950s. Her final husband, Ben Pearson, a famous English fashion designer and homosexual, was also her best friend. Adina strongly opposed the communist regime and refused to act in Czechoslovakia, instead working in a shop with her husband in England.
Later Life and Legacy
In the early 1990s, Adina, considered a sex symbol of Czech cinema, returned to her homeland. She published her autobiography, titled "Today I Am Laughing Over It," which provided a detailed account of her life, presenting events from her perspective rather than how they appeared to others. Behind the facade of a carefree young woman, Adina revealed a wise woman who spent her whole life waiting for happiness. Adina Mandlova passed away in 1991, and her death reignited discussions about her early life and marriages. Despite the controversies, Adina Mandlova is still honored as the greatest Czech actress of all time.
