Ursula Pearson

Ursula Pearson Bellah (1929–2006) was a German-born, American actress, author, and businesswoman, most famous for her role of Hilda in Teenagers From Outer Space and her autobiographical perspective on Nazi Germany Surviving the Judas Factor: A Childhood Entombed in Nazi Germany.

Life in Nazi Germany

Born Ursula Gadischke in 1929 in Berlin, Germany, the girl who went by "Ulli" had a tough time growing up. Brainwashed by the propaganda of Adolf Hitler at a very young age, Ulli allowed herself to be subjugated by the Nazis' totalitarian regime until personal tragedy and wisdom of age forced her to realize the atrocities they had committed. Her father, Hermann, was a captain in the 8th SS Cavalry Division, also known as the Florian Geyer. Both he and her much-loved older brother were killed in combat, forced to continue fighting even after their superiors had fled.

First Marriage and Teenagers from Outer Space

After the liberation of Germany by American troops, Ursula left Germany for America. After a chance whirlwind romance with former BBC and theatre actor Bryan Pearson in the mid 50's, the couple moved to Los Angeles in the hopes of reinvigorating Bryan's career. Unfortunately Bryan's first investment was the funding of Tom Graeff's ill-fated flop Teenagers From Outer Space, in which he starred as the villain Thor, and Ursula, changing her last name to the more American-friendly "Hansen" was featured as a secretary named Hilda.

The film failed at the box office and after a drawn out legal dispute the couple decided to leave the entertainment industry. A few years later the Pearsons divorced, and Bryan Pearson moved to Hawaii to pursue business interests.

Writing and Later life

After her marriage with Bryan, Ursula married Charles Kapple, an experienced sailor of the high seas (her Cap). After the early passing of Cap, Ursula married author James Bellah, son of author and World War II Royal Air Force pilot James Warner Bellah.

Towards the end of her life, Ursula was inspired by her daughter's desires to see her story written for future generations to write an autobiography of her life growing up in Nazi Germany. The book served as a warning to all about the dangers of blindly following a leader; a pied piper leading a nation into the darkness. While not a professionally written book by any means, the honest and deeply personal account is incredibly moving and Ursula confronts her past with both anger and regret.

She planned to write a sequel to her book, which would have detailed the resurrection of Germany and her life after the war, but she died before it was finished; her children have dedicated themselves to finding the book and publishing it.