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Uny Babickaity-GraychyuneneLithuanian theater actress and director, translator
Date of Birth: 01.05.1897
Country:  Lithuania |
Content:
Early Life and Education
Ona Babickaitė-Graičiūnienė was born in Lithuania, the sister of military leader Kazys Babickas and writer Petras Babickas. She worked as a hospital nurse and a teacher while pursuing her passion for singing and theater. She participated in amateur theater in St. Petersburg from 1914 to 1918.
Career as Actress and Director
In 1918, Babickaitė-Graičiūnienė joined the "Dainos bei scenos" ("Songs and Scenes") society in Kaunas as an actress and director. In 1919, she moved to the United States and organized and performed in plays in Lithuanian communities. In 1923, she made her debut in American films.
Babickaitė-Graičiūnienė went on to perform in theaters in Washington, D.C. (1924-1926), Paris, and London (1928-1936). In Paris, she became acquainted with renowned Russian poet Konstantin Balmont and provided him with financial support.
Return to Lithuania
Upon returning to Lithuania, Babickaitė-Graičiūnienė directed the Riflemen's Union Theater (1936-1939) and the Kaunas University Drama Club (1948-1950).
Imprisonment and Legacy
In 1951, Babickaitė-Graičiūnienė was exiled to a camp in the Kuibyshev Region. She returned to Lithuania in 1953 and resumed her acting and directing career.
Babickaitė-Graičiūnienė played female roles in plays by Lithuanian and Western European dramatists. She also translated French poetry, plays, and novels into Lithuanian. She was known for her powerful stage presence and her ability to convey the complexities of human emotion through her performances.
