Maria Schell was an Austrian actress who is best known for her roles in “The Brothers Karamazov,” “Napoléon,” and “For Whom the Bell Tolls.” She was a notable figure in German-speaking countries and made a significant impact in post-war cinema.
Personal and Family Life
Born on January 15, 1926, in Vienna, Austria, Maria Schell’s birth name was Anna Maria Margarete Schell. She had a rich family background, being the daughter of Hermann Ferdinand Schell and Margarete Schell Noé. Maria was married twice, first to Horst Hächler from 1957 to 1965 and then to Veit Relin from 1966 to 1986, with whom she had one child each from both marriages.
Career Highlights
Maria Schell began her acting career in a religious institution and studied drama in Zurich. She gained fame in theater and film, captivating audiences with her performances in Shakespeare’s “Hamlet” and modern classics like “Pygmalion.” Throughout her career, she appeared in many films and television series, earning recognition for her distinctive style and emotional depth.
Death and Legacy
Maria Schell passed away on April 26, 2005, due to pneumonia in Preitenegg, Carinthia, Austria. Her influence in the film industry remains, as she was remembered as one of the first movie idols post-World War II in the German-speaking realm. Her brother, Maximilian Schell, created a documentary about her life called “Meine Schwester Maria,” and she was honored on an Austrian postage stamp issued shortly before the tenth anniversary of her death.
Filmography
| Title | Release Date | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Superman | 1978-12-14 | Vond-Ah |
| La Passante du Sans-Souci | 1982-04-14 | Anna Helwig |
| Schöner Gigolo, armer Gigolo | 1978-11-16 | Pauls Mutti Frau von Przygodski |
| Der heiße Tod | 1969-03-05 | Leonie Caroll |
| Il trono di fuoco | 1970-02-05 | Mother Rosa |
| The Hanging Tree | 1959-02-19 | Elizabeth Mahler |
| The Brothers Karamazov | 1958-02-20 | Grushenka |
| Le notti bianche | 1957-11-14 | Natalia |
| Napoléon | 1955-03-25 | Marie-Louise d’Autriche |
| Cimarron | 1960-12-01 | Sabra Cravat |
| Gervaise | 1956-09-05 | Gervaise Macquart Coupeau |
| Die letzte Brücke | 1954-02-11 | Dr. Helga Reinbeck |
| Voyage of the Damned | 1976-12-22 | Frau Miriam Hauser |
| For Whom the Bell Tolls | 1959-03-12 | Maria |