Vera Ralston

Vera Ralston was a Czech-born figure skater who became an American actress and appeared in films during the 1940s and 1950s. Born in Prague, she first represented Czechoslovakia in figure skating, competing at the 1936 European Championships and the 1936 Winter Olympics. After emigrating to the United States in 1941, she signed a contract with Republic Pictures in 1943. Because her English was limited, she usually played immigrant girls. She starred in 26 films, including Dakota (1945) with John Wayne, The Fighting Kentuckian (1949), also with Wayne, Storm Over Lisbon (1944) with Erich von Stroheim, I, Jane Doe (1947), The Flame (1948), A Perilous Journey (1953), and Fair Wind to Java (1953) with Fred MacMurray. She retired from films in 1958. Her work in films earned her a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. She died in 2003.