Olga Chekhova

Olga Chekhova (1897–1980) was a Russian-born actress who became a prominent film star in Germany, particularly during the 1930s and 1940s.

Connect

Mädchen in Uniform: A 1931 German drama film about intense attachments among students at a girls’ boarding school. Chekhova appeared in this landmark of Weimar-era German cinema.
Moscow Art Theatre: A Russian theatre company founded in 1898 by Konstantin Stanislavski and Vladimir Nemirovich-Danchenko. Chekhova trained and performed in Moscow before establishing herself in Germany.
Michael Chekhov: A Russian actor, director, and acting teacher, nephew of playwright Anton Chekhov. He was Chekhova’s cousin and a fellow figure in Russian theatre.
Nazi cinema: Films produced in Germany under Nazi rule from 1933 to 1945. Chekhova’s most prominent German film work took place within this state-controlled industry.
The Three from the Filling Station: A 1930 German musical comedy about three bankrupt men who open a petrol station. Chekhova played one of the film’s prominent roles during her rise to stardom.
Konstantin Stanislavski: A Russian theatre director and actor who developed an influential system of actor training. His theatrical world shaped the acting culture in which Chekhova began her career.
Anton Chekhov: A Russian playwright and short-story writer whose works include The Seagull and Uncle Vanya. Chekhova belonged to the extended family of this celebrated writer.
Reich Film Chamber: A Nazi organization that regulated film production and employment in Germany. Its control of professional film work defined the industry around Chekhova.
The Great Love: A 1942 German romance film starring Zarah Leander as a singer in wartime Berlin. Chekhova appeared in this major wartime production.
Russian émigrés in Germany: People who left Russia and settled in Germany, especially after the 1917 revolutions and civil war. Chekhova’s move to Berlin placed her within this migration from Russia.