Nita Naldi
Biography
Nita Naldi was an American actress of the stage and the silent screen, usually cast as a vamp, a type Theda Bara popularized. Born in New York City, she worked as an artist's model and chorus girl before Broadway, where a well-received turn in The Bonehead led producer William A. Brady to give her a part in his play Opportunity in 1920. On film she played the exotic Gina in Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1920) after John Barrymore recommended her, and Vicente Blasco Ibáñez chose her for Doña Sol in Blood and Sand (1922), her first pairing with Rudolph Valentino. She took growing roles for Famous Players-Lasky, among them Cecil B. DeMille's The Ten Commandments (1923), and appeared in Alfred Hitchcock's The Mountain Eagle. She retired after making two features in France and one in Italy, and never made a sound film. She later returned to the stage and television, and earned a Hollywood Walk of Fame star.
66years old at death
- Born New York City
- Died New York City
- Star sign: ScorpioThe sign runs October 23 to November 21
Movie Career
- Films
- 3
- Career span
- 3 years1920 to 1923
Every film, newest first
- 1923The Ten CommandmentsIMDb rating 6.8
- 1922The Man from BeyondIMDb rating 5.3
- 1920Dr. Jekyll and Mr. HydeIMDb rating 6.9
Genres
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Big break
Spanish author Vicente Blasco Ibanez picked Nita Naldi to play Dona Sol in the 1922 movie of his novel Blood and Sand. The film did well and gave her a vamp image that stayed with her for life.
Big break
Naldi took small roles in several independent films, then played the exotic Gina in Paramount Pictures's 1920 release Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, which starred John Barrymore. Barrymore reportedly put her name forward for the part after spotting her dancing at the Winter Garden.
A role that slipped away
Naldi was considered for a part in the 1942 film For Whom the Bell Tolls but did not get it, and she never made another film.
A first
Naldi had a voice that was considered acceptable, but she never made a sound film at any point in her career.
Nita Naldi movies on Netflix
Worked with
Nita Naldi made one film with each of them. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.
Films together
John Barrymore's page
Luis Alberni's page
Brandon Hurst's page
Noble Johnson's page
May Robson's page
Julia Faye's page
John S. RobertsonDirector, 1 film, 1920
All films by John S. Robertson
All films by Cecil B. DeMille
Burton L. KingDirector, 1 film, 1922
All films by Burton L. King
Awards
One award and honor.
| Year | Award | Film | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other honors | |||
| Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame | Honored | ||
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.