Barbara Apolonia Chałupec

 Pola Negri, born Barbara Apolonia Chałupec (January 3, 1897 – August 1, 1987)

She achieved worldwide fame during the silent and golden eras of Hollywood and European film for her tragedienne and femme fatale roles. She was the first European film star to be invited to Hollywood, and became one of the most popular actresses in American silent film. Her varied career included work as an actress in theater and vaudeville; as a singer and recording artist; as an author; and as a ballerina. Her first role was in the film Die Bestie in 1915. By the end of the World War I, she had starred in the Polish production of Slave of Sin in 1918. Her next film later that year was the highly acclaimed Madame Du Berry in 1919, and it became a big sensation in Europe. It was later released in the United States as Passion. The film was so well received that she was given a contract to make films in Hollywood. Her vamp roles were highly popular and she was a direct rival of Theda Bara. But her popularity was short-lived. Pola made a dramatic scene at the funeral of fellow actor Rudolph Valentino (whom she was involved romantically with). The fans turned against her and her popularity faded quickly. In 1948, director Billy Wilder approached Negri to appear as Norma Desmond in the film Sunset Boulevard (1950), after Mae Murray, Mae West, and Mary Pickford declined the role. Negri reportedly declined the role because she felt that the screenplay was not ready and that Montgomery Clift, who was slated to play the Joe Gillis character at the time, was not a good choice for the character.

She spent the remaining years of her life in San Antonio, TX, where she died from pneumonia at age 90. Pola Negri is interred at Calvary Cemetery in East Los Angeles, CA.