| Baclanova | |
|---|---|
| Born | Olga Vladimirovna Baklanova 19 August 1900 Moscow, Russian Empire |
| Died | 6 September 1974 (aged 74) Vevey, Switzerland |
| Other names | Baclanova Olga Baklanova |
| Occupation | Stage and Motion Picture Actress |
| Years active | 1914–1943 |
| Spouse | Vlademar Zoppi (m. 1922–1929) 1 child Nicholas Soussanin (m. 1929–1939) 1 child Richard Davis (m. 1939 – ?) |
Olga Vladimirovna Baclanova, or Baklanova, (Russian: Ольга Владимировна Бакланова; 19 August 1900 – 6 September 1974[1][2][3]) was a Russian-born actress, who achieved prominence during the silent film era. She was billed as the Russian Tigress and remains most noted by modern audiences for portraying the leading lady in Tod Browning's unique horror movie Freaks (1932), which features a cast of actual carnival sideshow freaks. At the height of her career, she was billed by her last name only: Baclanova.
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Born in Moscow, Russia,[2] Baclanova was the daughter of Vladimir Baklanoff and his wife Alexandra,[2] herself an actress in early Russian films. Baclanova studied drama at the Cherniavsky Institute[2] before being accepted into the prestigious Moscow Art Theatre in 1912. Over the next decade she appeared in Russian films, and also performed extensively on stage, touring and performing in many countries of the world.
Baclanova first came to New York with the 1925 touring production of the Moscow Art Theatre's Lysistrata. Though the rest of the company returned to Russia in 1926, she stayed to pursue career in the United States.[2] A statuesque blonde, Baclanova quickly established herself as a popular actress in American silent movies and achieved a notable success with The Docks of New York (1928), directed by Josef von Sternberg. Later that year, she also appeared in The Man Who Laughs;[4] the creators of "Batman" based the appearance of their character "the Joker" on the titular protagonist in this film.
The introduction of talking films proved difficult for Baclanova, as audiences did not respond to her heavy Russian accent. She no longer secured leading roles, and was relegated to supporting parts. Her career was in decline when she was offered the role of the cruel circus performer Cleopatra in the Tod Browning-directed film Freaks[4] (1932) a horror movie by the director of Dracula that featured actual carnival freaks. The film was highly controversial to say the least, and screened only briefly before being withdrawn and suppressed. It would be 30 years before Freaks gained a cult following. The movie did not revive Baclanova's film career, which ended in 1943.
Baclanova worked extensively on stage in London's West End and in New York, for about ten years starting in the mid 1930s. In 1943 she appeared in "Claudia" at the Moore Theatre in Seattle, Washington.
Baclanova's resemblance to modern singer Madonna in The Man Who Laughs has been noted by current critics.[5]
After her retirement she settled in Vevey, Switzerland, where she died after several years of poor health, and possibly Alzheimers.