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Olga Baclanova

Acting Born Aug 16, 1893 Died Sep 6, 1974 Moscow, Russian Empire [now Russia] 22 credits
22
Total Credits
1943
16 Years Career Span
1
Vault Titles
10
Key Co-Stars

Biography

Olga Vladimirovna Baclanova was a Russian-born actress and operatic singer who achieved prominence during the silent film era. Often billed under her last name only as Baclanova and known as the Russian Tigress, she was a student of the Moscow Art Theatre and spent her early years appearing in theatre productions and silent films in her native land. She first came to New York City with a touring production of the Moscow Art Theatre's Lysistrata. Modern audiences most note her for portraying Cleopatra, a trapeze artist who marries a circus owner, in Tod Browning's horror movie Freaks. Her career included work in theatre and film, and she is recorded with various birth dates across historical sources.

Sources & verification Olga Baclanova — The Movie Database (TMDB) Olga Baclanova - Wikipedia Olga Baclanova Movies List | Rotten Tomatoes | Rotten Tomatoes Olga Baclanova | actress | Britannica Olga Baclanova | ČSFD.cz Olga Baclanova (1899) - FDb.cz How Archytele verifies pages
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Career

Career overview

Olga Vladimirovna Baclanova was a Russian-born actress and operatic singer who achieved prominence during the silent film era. Often billed under her last name only as Baclanova, she was also known by the moniker the Russian Tigress. A student of the Moscow Art Theatre, she spent her early years in her native land appearing in theatre productions and silent films from 1914 until 1918. She first came to New York City with the 1925 touring production of the Moscow Art Theatre presentation of Lysistrata.

Modern audiences remain most noted for her role portraying Cleopatra in Tod Browning's horror movie Freaks, released in 1932, which featured a cast of actual carnival sideshow freaks. In that film, she played the trapeze artist who marries a midget circus owner only to try killing him for his money. Over the course of her career, she amassed a known total of acting credits in film and television.

Olga Baclanova was born in Moscow, in the Russian Empire, now Russia. Biographical records note her birth date variously across sources, including August 19, 1893, August 16, 1893, and other conflicting years. She passed away on September 6, 1974.

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Known for

Film

Freaks

as Cleopatra

Frequent co-stars

Harry Earles 1 shared title
Daisy Earles 1 shared title
Henry Victor 1 shared title
Wallace Ford 1 shared title
Leila Hyams 1 shared title
Roscoe Ates 1 shared title
Angelo Rossitto 1 shared title
Jerry Austin 1 shared title
Daisy Hilton 1 shared title
Violet Hilton 1 shared title

Career timeline

Claudia
The Billion Dollar Scandal
FreaksDownstairs
The Great Lover
Are You There?Cheer Up and Smile
A Dangerous WomanThe Man I LoveThe Wolf of Wall Street
The Man Who LaughsThe Docks of New YorkThe Street of SinThe Woman DisputedForgotten Faces
Bread
Flowers Belated
He Who Gets Slapped
The Afterlife Wanderer
When The Heart's Strings Sound

Full Filmography

22 titles
  • Claudia (1943) as Madame Daruschka
  • The Billion Dollar Scandal (1933) as "Goo Goo" [script name: Anna]
  • Freaks (1932) as Cleopatra
  • Downstairs (1932) as Baroness Eloise von Burgen
  • The Great Lover (1931) as Savarova
  • Are You There? (1930) as Countess Helenka
  • Cheer Up and Smile (1930) as Yvonne
  • A Dangerous Woman (1929) as Tania Gregory
  • The Man I Love (1929) as Sonia Barondoff
  • The Wolf of Wall Street (1929) as Olga
  • The Man Who Laughs (1928) as Duchess Josiana
  • The Docks of New York (1928) as Lou
  • The Street of Sin (1928) as Annie
  • The Woman Disputed (1928) as Countess (replaced by Gladys Brockwell) (scenes deleted)
  • Forgotten Faces (1928) as Lilly Harlow
  • Three Sinners (1928) as Baroness Hilda Brings
  • Avalanche (1928) as Grace Stillwell
  • Bread (1918)
  • Flowers Belated (1917) as Marusya
  • He Who Gets Slapped (1916) as Horse rider Consuella
  • The Afterlife Wanderer (1915) as Vera
  • When The Heart's Strings Sound (1914) as Ira

Frequently Asked Questions

What movies or TV shows is Olga Baclanova best known for?

Olga Baclanova is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including Freaks (1932).

When and where was Olga Baclanova born?

Olga Baclanova was born on August 16, 1893 in Moscow, Russian Empire [now Russia]. They passed away on September 6, 1974.

How many credits does Olga Baclanova have?

Olga Baclanova has accumulated over 22 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1928 to 1943.

What is Olga Baclanova's background in cinema and television?

Olga Vladimirovna Baclanova was a Russian-born actress and operatic singer who achieved prominence during the silent film era. Often billed under her last name only as Baclanova and known as the Russian Tigress, she was a student of the Moscow Art Theatre and spent her early years appearing in theatre productions and s...