Romy Schneider had many talents as a child. The girl drew well, danced and sang beautifully. However, fate decreed that she became just an actress. Romy managed to star in about 60 film and television projects before her life ended tragically in 1982. What can you tell about this amazing woman?
Romy Schneider: biography (family)
The heroine of this article was born in Vienna, it happened in September 1938. Romy Schneider was born in a creative family. Her parents were actor Wolf Albach-Retti and actress Magda Schneider.
The first years of life, Romy and her brother Wolf-Dieter spent in the house of their grandparents. Parents practically did not deal with children, disappeared on the set. They broke up when Romy was four years old. Some time later, the girl’s mother married a second time, restaurateur Hans Herbert Blatzheim became her chosen one. In the life of Romy's father, another woman also appeared. The man married his colleague Labor Marlene.
Childhood
What is known about Romy Schneider’s childhood? Rosemary Magdalena Albach (the real name of the star) began attending elementary school in the fall of 1944. Five years later, the girl was sent to a boarding school at a convent near Salzburg, where she lived until she was 14 years old. Her father did not visit her at all, his mother’s visits were extremely rare.
Little Romy studied medium. She hated exact sciences, but was drawn to creative activity. Drawing, singing, dancing - she had many hobbies. Romy was not an exemplary girl. She constantly skipped classes, allowed herself mischievous antics, clashed with teachers and other pupils.
Choice of profession
Romy Schneider planned to continue her studies at the Cologne art school, but fate decreed otherwise. At the age of 14, the girl first hit the set. Her mother got the main role in the melodrama "When the Lilac Blossoms." The woman convinced the director that the daughter of her heroine should play exactly Romy.
The girl was delighted when she found out about it. Secretly, she always wanted to test her strength on the set. The young beauty successfully passed the test. Her debut picture was presented to the audience in 1953.
A few months later, aspiring actress Romy Schneider got her second role. In the film "Fireworks" the girl played the role of the young Anna Oberholzer. Her heroine runs away from home and becomes a member of the big top circus. It was then that she began to use a pseudonym, under which she became famous.
From obscurity to fame
Even in his youth, Romy Schneider managed to become a star. This happened thanks to her participation in the film "The Queen's Young Years." Initially, it was assumed that the main role will be played by actress Sonya Tsiman. However, the director Ernst Marishka was so impressed with Romy's talent that he approved it. The film was an incredible success with the audience. Romy, who embodied the image of the young Queen Victoria, woke up famous. Her mother Magda Schneider also appeared in this picture, but her daughter overshadowed her.
In 1955, the tape “March for the Emperor” was presented to the audience. This film starred not only Romy herself, but also her parents. The picture was also a success with the audience, Schneider's fans became even more. It took a talented girl just over two years to turn into a movie star.
Star role
From the biography of Romy Schneider, it follows that she tasted real glory in 1955. The girl played a key role in the film "Sisi." This picture tells the story of the young daughter of the Duke of Bavaria, who fell in love with the Austrian Emperor Franz Joseph.
The tape of Ernst Marishka gained great popularity, the story was continued. Schneider played in the films "Sisi - The Young Empress" and "Sisi: The Difficult Years of the Empress." In the fourth part, the girl categorically refused to star, as she did not want to become an actress of one role. Because of this, she had a conflict with stepfather Hans Herbert Blatzheim, who then acted as her manager. He insisted on filming, but the stepdaughter did not obey.
Fateful picture
In 1958, the touching melodrama Christina was presented to the audience. This tape tells the tragic love story of the young beauty Christina to dragoon Franz. The role of Christina went to Romy, while Franz was played by Alain Delon. At that time, the sex symbol of France was still a little-known actor.
One role changed the life of Romy Schneider. While working on the film, she had an affair with Alain Delon. Filming was over, but the girl was not able to part with her lover. She followed Alain to France, who met her very coolly.
The difficult 1960s
In France, Romy Schneider was actually forced to start all over again. For a while, the girl was not offered decent roles. A great success for her was meeting her director Lukino Visconti. The master offered her a role in his production of "It is a pity that she is a lecher." Beloved Schneider Alain Delon took part in this performance.
It was Lukino Visconti who introduced Romy to Coco Chanel. This woman taught the actress to understand fashion, instilled in her sophisticated manners. Under her influence, Schneider began to pay more attention to her appearance. Gymnastics, swimming pool and diet firmly entered her life.
The play “It is a pity that she is a lecher” was a great success with the audience. French directors vied to offer the actress roles. She played in the new Visconti film "Bocaccio-70", appeared in the film adaptation of Kafka's work "Process". The audience liked the films “Winners” and “Cardinal” with her participation.
Romy Schneider's personal life was not so successful. Alain Delon left her when she was on tour in the United States. He married Natalie Barthelemy, whom he had secretly met before for some time. Romy refused to believe in the betrayal of her lover. For several months, the actress plunged into severe depression. She even attempted to lay hands on herself, but they were unsuccessful.
Return to work
It took Romy about a year to come to terms with the departure of his beloved Alain, to return to life and work. Finally, she forced herself to accept the offer of director Woody Allen, and played one of the key roles in his comedy “What's New, Pussy?”. Then the actress returned to her homeland.
Many critics believe that the 1970s were the most successful decade in her work. It all started with a collaboration with Lukino Visconti. Romy brilliantly played in his film "Ludwig." The Empress became her heroine, the image of which she had previously created in the film "Sisi". In this picture, she becomes the object of desire of the King of Bavaria Ludwig the Second and one of the steps to his inglorious fall.
We continue the story of the best films of Romy Schneider. In 1974, the actress played a key role in the drama "The main thing is to love," which was presented to the audience by director Andrei Zhulavsky. In this tape, she convincingly portrayed an actress who is unlucky with roles. Once she falls in love with a photographer who makes a living with erotic photographs. A woman is forced to choose between her lover and her husband, who always supported her.
In 1975, the joint film project of France and Germany, “The Old Gun”, was released, which is dedicated to the sad events of the Second World War. The focus of the audience is the story of a surgeon who learns about the murder of his wife and daughter by German troops. The tragedy experienced makes the hero embark on the path of revenge. Romy brilliantly played one of the key roles in this film. This was followed by the vivid role of a lady from high society, who falls in love with a communist, in the film “Woman at the Window”. Then Schneider played a middle-aged divorced woman in the film “Everyone has their chance,” embodied the image of a mother who lost her child in the film “Woman's Light”.
First marriage
Of course, fans are interested in not only the films of Romy Schneider, but also the personal life of the actress. Shortly after breaking up with Delon, she married director Harry Mayen. A new love helped her get out of the depression in which she plunged after breaking up with Alain. Romy gave birth to the son of David and, it would seem, regained happiness.
In the late 1960s, the unfaithful lover decided to return to Schneider's life. By this time, Delon had already managed to divorce his wife. He convinced Romy to play with him in the film "Pool". At first, the actors insisted that they were connected only by friendly relations. However, this information was refuted by a photograph in which Romy and Allen passionately kiss at the airport. After the publication of the scandalous photo, Harry Mayen divorced his wife. Two years later, the former husband of the star committed suicide, in which Schneider blamed himself for the rest of his life.
Second marriage
Shortly after breaking up with Harry Meyer, Romy got married again. The actress fell in love with her personal secretary Daniel Byazini. In 1977, the couple had a daughter, the girl was named Sarah. Three years later, Schneider and Byazini separated, the reasons for which remained behind the scenes.
Tragedy
In 1981, Romy Schneider was forced to survive the terrible tragedy that knocked her down. The accident killed her son David, who was then 14 years old. The actress forced herself to work, trying to distract from her grief. During this period, she began a relationship with the French producer Laurent Pétain.
However, filming a movie and a new romance did not help Romy forget about her dead son. She tried to forget about her loss with the help of antidepressants and alcohol.
Death
The talented actress Romy Schneider died in May 1982. Shortly before her death, the star arrived in Paris in the company of her lover Laurent Petain. She was in a good mood, discussing the purchase of a new home.
In the evening of May 28, the actress asked Petain to leave her, because she wanted to be alone. On the morning of May 29, Laurent found his girlfriend dead. For some time, there were rumors that the star had laid hands on herself, but her relatives denied such information. Doctors indicated cardiac arrest as the cause of death.
Romy's funeral was taken over by Alain Delon. Her grave is in the cemetery of Boissy-saint-Avour. At the insistence of the actor, the remains of his son Schneider David were also transported there.
Photos of Romy Schneider at different periods of life can be seen in the article. She left this world at the age of 43. The star managed to star in about 60 films. Some of them are more successful, some less. However, many of them are worth a look already for the sake of Schneider's talent alone.