Natasha Lytess (born 16 May 1911, Berlin, Germany – died 12 May 1963, Zurich, Switzerland) was an actress, writer and drama coach.

Life

Born Natalia Postmann and also known as Tala Forman, she had studied with the director Max Reinhardt and appeared in the repertory theater. She is said to have had a relationship with the writer Bruno Frank, who is also said to be the father of her daughter Barbara, born in 1943.[1]

When the Nazis came to power, and in light of her Jewish heritage,[2] she moved to the United States and settled in Los Angeles. She had hoped for a great stage career, but her accent and purportedly unfeminine appearance limited the roles she could play.[3]

Among her acting credits were appearances in Comrade X (1940), Once Upon a Honeymoon (1942), and The House on Telegraph Hill (1951). Her performance in Once Upon a Honeymoon drew praise from New York Times critic Bosley Crowther, who said she "shines with clear and poignant brilliance in a brief part as a Jewish chambermaid."[4]

In her career as a drama coach, her students included Mamie Van Doren,[5] Virginia Leith,[6] and Ann Savage (who reputedly got her stage name after a particularly "savage" argument with Lytess).[7]

Lytess is known best for her partnership with actress Marilyn Monroe from 1948 to 1956. During her time as a drama coach for Columbia Pictures, Lytess was shown Monroe's screen test and convinced the head of Columbia Pictures to hire Monroe for a six-month contract. Lytess appeared on What's My Line on September 12, 1954 as Marilyn Monroe's dramatic coach. Her occupation was guessed by Bennett Cerf in the free guess given the panel before the game began because he recognized her face. Lytess coached Marilyn through more than 20 films before their partnership began to deteriorate. Lytess is rumored to have had more than professional feelings toward Monroe which developed, according to Monroe and other actresses that studied under Lytess, into an overbearing obsession. In 1956, Monroe sent Lytess a telegram saying that she did not require Natasha's services anymore, and the partnership ended after more than seven years.[8]

Death

Lytess died of cancer four days before her 52nd birthday in Zurich, Switzerland. She was portrayed by Lindsay Crouse in Norma Jeane & Marilyn,[9] and by Embeth Davidtz in The Secret Life of Marilyn Monroe.

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
1940Comrade XOlga
1942Once Upon a HoneymoonAnna
1951The House on Telegraph HillKarin Dernakova
1952Anything Can HappenMadame Greshiani
1958Schlitz PlayhouseMotherepisode: "Curfew at Midnight"
1961Barabbasuncredited

References

  1. ↑ Spoto, Donald (2001). Marilyn Monroe: The Biography. Cooper Square Press. p. 135. ISBN 978-0-8154-1183-3.
  2. ↑ Meyers, Jeffrey (19 January 2012). The Genius and the Goddess: Arthur Miller and Marilyn Monroe. University of Illinois Press; 1st edition. p. 155. ISBN 9780252078545.
  3. ↑ Spoto, Donald (2001). Marilyn Monroe: The Biography. Cooper Square Press. pp. 135–36.
  4. ↑ Crowther, Bosley (13 November 1942). "'Once Upon Honeymoon,' With Ginger Rogers, Cary Grant, Opens at Music Hall". The New York Times. Retrieved 5 July 2017.
  5. ↑ Mamie Van Doren; Art Aveilhe (1 October 1988). Playing the Field. Berkley. p. 33. ISBN 978-0-425-11251-9.
  6. ↑ Don Harron (2012). My Double Life: Sexty Yeers of Farquharson Around with Don Harn. Dundurn. p. 232. ISBN 978-1-4597-0552-4.
  7. ↑ Lisa Morton; Kent Adamson (4 December 2009). Savage Detours: The Life and Work of Ann Savage. McFarland. pp. 35, 38, 41. ISBN 978-0-7864-4353-6.
  8. ↑ Lois Banner (2012). Marilyn: The Passion and the Paradox. Bloomsbury Publishing. pp. 141& passim. ISBN 978-1-60819-760-6.
  9. ↑ Bono, Chastity (14 May 1996). "Lesbianism Made Easy: Actor Lindsay Crouse plays lesbian as Marilyn Monroe's teacher and lover in controversial new film". The Advocate. Retrieved 5 July 2017.
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