Katharina Schratt, Baroness Kiss von Ittebe was an Austrian actress who became "the uncrowned Empress of Austria" as a confidante of Emperor Franz Joseph.
11 Facts About Katharina Schratt
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Katharina Schratt was born in Baden bei Wien, the only daughter of stationery dealer Anton Schratt ; she had two brothers.
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Katharina Schratt's parents tried to discourage her from becoming an actress and sent her to a boarding school in Cologne this only increased her ambition.
4.
Katharina Schratt finally was allowed to take acting lessons in Vienna and gave her debut at the age of 17 in her hometown.
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Katharina Schratt's performance made her a leading lady of the Viennese stage.
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Katharina Schratt toured overseas, and appeared in New York City, after which she returned permanently to Vienna's Hofburgtheater.
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Katharina Schratt was one of Austria's most popular actresses until she retired in 1900, following disagreement with theatre director Paul Schlenther.
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Katharina Schratt soon became Franz Joseph's companion but there is no solid evidence that it was anything but platonic.
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Katharina Schratt was rewarded with a generous lifestyle including a mansion on Vienna's Gloriettegasse, near Schonbrunn Palace and a mansion in Bad Ischl.
10.
Katharina Schratt was a friend of notable men such as Count Johann Nepomuk von Wilczek or Prince Ferdinand I of Bulgaria.
11.
Katharina Schratt visited Emperor Franz Joseph's and Empress Elisabeth's tomb in the Kapuzinergruft daily.