Early life
She was born Marem-Ides Leventon (Russian name: ''Adelaida Yakovlevna Leventon'') inCareer
Nazimova's theater career blossomed early, and by 1903, she was a major star in Moscow and Saint Petersburg. She toured Europe, including London and Berlin, with her boyfriend Pavel Orlenev, a flamboyant actor and producer. In 1905, they moved to New York City and founded a Russian-language theater on the Lower East Side. The venture was unsuccessful, and Orlenev returned to Russia while Nazimova stayed in New York. She was signed by the American producerPersonal life
Marriages
In 1899, she married Sergei Golovin, a fellow actor. From 1912 to 1925, Nazimova maintained a "Relationships with women
From 1917 to 1922, Nazimova wielded considerable influence and power in Hollywood. She helped start the careers of both of Rudolph Valentino's wives,Friends and relations
Edith Luckett, a stage actress and the mother of future U.S. First Lady Nancy Reagan, was a friend of Nazimova, having acted with her onstage. Edith married Kenneth Seymour Robbins, and following the birth of their daughter Nancy in 1921, Nazimova became her godmother. Nazimova continued to be friends with Edith and her second husband, neurosurgeon Loyal Davis, until her death. She was also the aunt of American film producerGarden of Alla
Nazimova's private lifestyle gave rise to widespread rumors of outlandish and allegedly debauched parties at her mansion on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood, California, known as The Garden of Alla, which she leased in 1918 and bought outright the next year. Facing near-bankruptcy in 1926, she converted the 2.5-acre estate into a hotel by building 25 villas on the property. The Garden of Alla Hotel opened in January 1927. But Nazimova was ill-equipped to run a hotel and eventually sold it and returned to Broadway and theatrical tours. By 1930, the hotel had been purchased by Central Holding Corporation, which changed the name to the Garden of Allah Hotel. When Nazimova moved back to Hollywood in 1938, she rented Villa 24 at the hotel and lived there until she died.Death and memorials
On July 13, 1945, Nazimova died of aLegacy
Nazimova has been depicted a number of times in film and onstage. The first two were biographical films about Rudolph Valentino: '' The Legend of Valentino'' (1975), in which she was portrayed by Alicia Bond; and '' Valentino'' (1977), in which she was portrayed byFilmography
See also
* List of American film actresses *References
Further reading
* Golden, Eve (2001). ''Golden Images: 41 Essays on Silent Film Stars''. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company. . * Lewton, Lucy Olga (1988). ''Alla Nazimova, My Aunt, Tragedienne: A Personal Memoir''. Minuteman Press. * Smith, Frederick James (September 1918). "Those Nazimova Eyes!" in ''Picture Play''.External links