Alla Nazimova

Biography

Alla Nazimova was a Russian-born American actress and pioneer of silent cinema, known for her intense performances in classic plays by Ibsen and Chekhov. Her Broadway debut in 1906 earned her critical acclaim, and she became one of the highest-paid actresses in the US before transitioning to films. She wielded considerable influence in Hollywood between 1917 and 1922 and continued to produce and act in visually experimental adaptations until her retirement.