Sid Chariss: biography, career and personal life

In this article, let's talk about the well-deserved American actress of theater and cinema Sid Chariss. Consider her biography, career and personal life.

Biography

Sid Chariss was born on March 8, 1922 in the town of Amarillo, Texas, USA. The future actress grew up in the family of the jeweler Finkley Ernst and the housewives Lily Norwood. When the girl was eight years old, she began to practice ballet. The girl's father strongly encouraged the enthusiasm for her child, bought everything necessary, put a full-length mirror and a ballet stick in the room of a small ballerina, which was a rarity for that time.

After a while, the whole family moved to Hollywood (a district in Los Angeles), where young Sid Chariss began training at the Hollywood Professional School . At 12, Sid attended a dance studio, her teacher was Nico Chariss, a little later the girl studied dance art from such teachers as Bronislava Nijinskaya (a famous Russian ballet dancer) and Adolf Bolm.

Carier start

Sid Chariss, whose biography is full of different beginnings and hobbies, in 1937 was enlisted in the troupe "Russian Ballet of Monte Carlo" and went on tour in the US. At that time in the fashion was to act under Russian pseudonyms, Chariss performed on the stage under the pseudonym Natasha Tulalis, and then changed it and appeared on stage as Maria Istomin.

In 1939, after the death of her father, the actress was forced to leave the troupe and stay in the US. It will be two years, and Sid will appear in several films, performing episodic roles. In 1942, the actress will receive her first serious role, in the credits of the film will be given the pseudonym Lily Norwood.

1946 will bring Sid many surprises. MGM will sign a contract with the girl, after which she will receive regular roles in the movie, and all the pseudonyms will remain in the past, a new talented actress will appear on the screen - Sid Chariss, whose photo will be published in the local newspaper.

Top of glory

The current popularity of the girl brought the film Stanley Donen's "Singing in the Rain," which was presented to the viewer in 1952. In the film, the actress starred as a partner Kelly Jin.

In the same year, Sid was in the Guinness Book of Records, her legs were insured for $ 5 million.

Together with Fred Aster, the main dance star of that time, in 1953, Sid played in the movie "Theatrical van", in which the duo performed a scene called "Dancing in the Dark." This episode will later become one of the most famous dance productions in the history of cinema. After Aster calls his partner "dancing dynamite."

Then the actress appeared on the screen more and more often, but mostly she played roles that did not belong to dances. So, for example, Sid played the role of Yushchenko's commissar Nina in the comedy "Silk Stockings" in 1957. For the same role, Chariss was nominated for the Golden Globe Award (Best Female Role in Comedy).

Closer to the decline of her career, the actress appeared in the image of a fatal woman, increasingly played roles in detective stories and crime-crime films. After together with Tony Martin Chariss began to tour the countries of Europe.

When Chariss turned 71, she joined the composition of the musical "Grand Hotel", where she replaced the no less famous Lillian Montevecchi.

Personal life and rewards

The first marriage of Sid Chariss (in the girlhood of Finkley) took place in 1939, at that time still a beginner actress married her mentor Nico Charissa. In the marriage of a couple a son was born, who was named after the head of the family. After the divorce, the dancer left her husband's surname. In the marriage, the couple lived for eight years.

In 1948, Sid second time married, this time the husband of the actress was a Hollywood singer of Portuguese origin Tony Martin. In marriage, the couple had a son, who also was named after his father. Also, Martin adopted the first child from the previous marriage to Sid. In 1976, the couple released their own autobiography called The Two of Us .

In 2006, Sid Chariss was awarded with national awards:

• "National Medal of the USA" for achievement in the field of arts.
• Award in the field of dance Gypsy Lifetime Achievement Award from the society of professional dancers.

June 17, 2008, while in Los Angeles, the actress passed away. According to the doctors, death came from heart failure.

Sid Chariss was able to influence the development of dance and cinema, combining them together. This talented actress for a long time was remembered by the audience and left behind only the brightest impressions.