Vera Zorina

European ballerina and actress Vera Zorina, born Eva Brigitta Hartwig to Norwegian parents in Berlin, appeared in a few Hollywood musicals from the late '30s through the early '40s. She learned to dance as a small child and by age seven was already a professional. In 1929, Zorina appeared in Max Reinhardt's A Midsummer Night's Dream as the lead elf, a role that earned her favorable reviews. After joining the Ballet Russe in 1933, Zorina began touring England and the U.S. While she was appearing in the London version of the popular musical On Your Toes, movie mogul Sam Goldwyn saw her and signed her to star in 1938's Goldwyn Follies. Later that year she also made her Broadway debut in I Married an Angel. For the frosting on that year's cake, she married the great choreographer George Balanchine. The union lasted through 1946 and after divorcing Balanchine, she married Columbia Records president Goddard Lieberson. Though Zorina was a wonderful dancer, her acting skills were lacking and by the end of the '40s, she had left films in favor of infrequent stage appearances and to narrating modern classical music pieces during concerts. Following experience directing opera in Santa Fe, NM, during the '70s, Zorina became the managing director of the Norwegian Opera. In 1978, she became a music consultant and record producer for Columbia.

~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide