Short Biography

Romy Schneider (born September 23, 1938 in Vienna, died May 29, 1982 in Paris, aged 43) was an Austrian-German actress; she also held French citizenship.

She was born Rosemarie Magdalena Albach-Retty in Vienna into a family of actors that included her paternal grandmother Rosa Albach-Retty, her Austrian father Wolf Albach-Retty and her German mother Magda Schneider. After her parents` divorce in 1945, Magda took charge of Romy and her brother Wolfi, eventually supervising the young girl`s career, often appearing alongside her daughter. Romy made her film debut in Wenn der weisse Flieder wieder blüht (1953), at the age of 15. Young Romy`s career was also overseen by her stepfather, Hans-Herbert Blatzheim, a noted restaurateur who Schneider indicated had an unhealthy interest in her.

Romy Schneider`s first movie was Wenn der weiße Flieder wieder blüht (When the White Lilacs Bloom Again) in 1953, credited as Romy Schneider-Albach; this was also the debut of Götz George. In the film Mädchenjahre einer Königin (The Story of Vicky [US] / Victoria in Dover [UK]) (1954) Romy Schneider for the first time portrayed a royal. This Austrian movie is about the early years of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom, in particular her first encounter with Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. Schneider`s breakthrough came with her portrayal of Princess Elisabeth of Bavaria, the later Empress Consort of Austria, in the romantic biopic Sissi (1955) and its two sequels, Sissi - Die junge Kaiserin (1956) and Sissi - Schicksalsjahre einer Kaiserin (1957). Less stereotypical films during this busy period include Robinson soll nicht sterben (The Legend of Robinson Crusoe) (1957) putting her among a stellar cast and opposite a young Horst Buchholz, and Monpti (1957), directed by Helmut Käutner and again opposite Buchholz.

Schneider soon starred in Christine (1958), a remake of Max Ophüls`s 1933 film Liebelei (itself based upon a play by Arthur Schnitzler). It was during the filming of Christine that Schneider fell in love with French actor Alain Delon, who co-starred in the movie. She left Germany to join him in Paris. Schneider became engaged to Delon in 1959.

Schneider stayed in France, slowly gaining the interest of film directors such as Orson Welles for The Trial (1962), based upon Franz Kafka`s The Trial and was introduced by Delon to Luchino Visconti.

Under Visconti`s direction, she gave performances in John Ford`s play `Tis Pity She`s a Whore and in the film Boccaccio `70 (segment: "The Job"). A brief stint in Hollywood included appearances in Good Neighbor Sam, a 1964 comedy with Jack Lemmon, and 1965 What`s New, Pussycat? costarring Peter O`Toole, Peter Sellers and Woody Allen who also wrote the screenplay.

Scheider and Delon decided to split in 1964. Later she married Harry Meyen (1924–1979), a German director and actor who later committed suicide. The couple had a son, David Christopher Meyen (1966–1981). In 1975, Schneider married Daniel Biasini, her private secretary; they separated in June 1981. Their daughter Sarah Magdalena Biasini (born July 14, 1977) is also an actress.

Schneider continued starring in films with Alain Delon. Together they did La Piscine (The Swimming Pool) (1968). The Assassination of Trotsky (1972) followed and Delon remained a lifelong friend.

Romy Schneider worked in France as an actress during the 1970s, giving performances in films such as Les choses de la vie (1970

Miscellaneous Information

Friends and Family

Simone Signoret [Friend]

Karlheinz Böhm [Friend]

Maria Schell [Friend]

Coco Chanel [Friend]

Michel Drucker [Friend]

Luchino Visconti [Friend]

Claude Sautet [Friend]

Brigitte Bardot [Friend]

Hanna Schygulla [Friend]

Helmut Berger [Friend]

Yves Montand [Friend]

Michel Piccoli [Friend]

Trude Marlen [Step Mother]

Hans Herbert Blatzheim [Step Father]

Jean-Claude Brialy [Friend]

Wolfgang [Brother]

Magda Schneider [Mother]

Wolf Albach-Retty [Father]

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