Tamara Desni

Tamara Desni (October 22, 1911 in Berlin as Tamara Brodsky; February 7, 2008 in Valence d'Agen, France) was a German-born English actress.

Biography

The daughter of actress Xenia Desni, Desni first married dentist Hans Wilhelm while a teenager, though the two divorced before Desni landed her first acting role in 1931 at the musical "White Horse Inn". She followed this up with another leading role at the musical "Casanova", featuring music by the Johann Strauss, Jr.

Desni's film career began in 1933 with "Falling for You", and continued through 1950. She met her second husband, actor Bruce Seton, on the set of "Blue Smoke" in 1934. They married in 1936, but divorced in 1940. She next married film producer Bill Gillett, though he did not survive World War II. Her fourth marriage was to the Canadian-born actor Raymond Lovell in 1947, the two separating some time later.

Moving to southern France, Desni met Albert Lavagna, a builder, and the two developed the popular inn L'Auberge Chez Tamara. The two married in 1956, shortly after Desni discovered she was pregnant for the first time. The marriage ended up producing two daughters.

Desni's health began declining while in her late eighties. She died on February 7, 2008 in Valence d'Agen, France, aged 94. Lavagna pre-deceased her.

Filmography

* 1931: Der Schrecken der Garnison
* 1931: Im Geheimdienst
* 1933: Falling for You
* 1934: Forbidden Territory
* 1934: Jack Ahoy
* 1934: Bypass to Happiness
* 1934: How's Chances?
* 1935: Dark World
* 1935: Blue Smoke
* 1935: McGlusky the Sea Rover
* 1936: Love in Exile
* 1937: Fire Over England
* 1937: The Squeaker
* 1939: Traitor Spy
* 1940: His Brother's Keeper
* 1945: Flight from Folly
* 1946: Send for Paul Temple
* 1947: The Hills of Donegal
* 1950: Dick Barton at Bay

External links

*
* [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2008/02/15/db1504.xml Tamara Desni obituary at telegraph.co.uk]
* [http://film.virtual-history.com/person.php?personid=703 Photographs of Tamara Desni]