Alla Nazimova was a Russian silent film actress known for her many lesbian love affairs
She was born Adelaida Yakovlevna on June 3, 1879 in Yalta, Russia. Her Jewish parents divorced when she was eight. Sadly she would spend her childhood living with relatives and in foster homes. Alla took acting lessons and began her career on the Moscow stage. In 1899 she married Sergei Golovin, an actor. They seperated a few years later but didn’t legally divorce until 1923. She moved to New York City and made her Broadway debut in the 1905 play The Chosen People. Then she appeared in the hit shows Hedda Gabbler, A Doll’s House, and The Marionettes. Alla quickly became one of Broadway’s most popular stars. She agreed to enter into a sham marriage with her close friend, actor Charles Bryant, in 1912. They were both gay and believed that this lavender marriage would help their careers. At the age of thirty-seven she made her film debut in the silent drama War Brides. Metro studios offered her a contract for $13,000 a week. The dark haired beauty had starring roles in many films including Eye For An Eye, The Brat, and Madame Peacock. Alla also formed her own production company and wrote her own screenplays.
