20 Facts About Romy Schneider

Romy Schneider began her career in the German genre in the early 1950s when she was 15.

Romy Schneider was born Rosemarie Magdalena Albach in Vienna, six months after the Anschluss of Austria into the German Reich, to actors Magda Romy Schneider and Wolf Albach-Retty.

Romy Schneider's parents were very rarely present due to their acting engagements.

In September 1944, Romy Schneider was enrolled in the elementary school of Schonau and from July 1949 she attended the girls' boarding school at Castle Goldenstein, a private secondary school of the Augustinian Canonesses of the Congregation of Notre Dame in Elsbethen near Salzburg.

Romy Schneider's career was overseen by her stepfather Blatzheim who, Schneider indicated, had an unhealthy interest in her.

Romy Schneider soon starred in Christine, a remake of Max Ophuls's 1933 film Liebelei.

Romy Schneider left Germany to join him in Paris, and they announced their engagement in 1959.

Romy Schneider decided to live and to work in France, slowly gaining the interest of film directors such as Orson Welles for The Trial, based on Franz Kafka's The Trial.

In 1962, Romy Schneider played Anna in Sacha Pitoeff's production of Chekhov's play The Seagull, at the Theatre Moderne.

Romy Schneider continued to work in France during the 1970s, most notably with director Claude Sautet on five films.

Romy Schneider portrayed a more mature and realistic Elisabeth of Austria in Ludwig, Visconti's film about the life of King Ludwig II of Bavaria.

On 30 October 1974, Romy Schneider created one of the most memorable moments on German television.

Romy Schneider acted in The Infernal Trio with Michel Piccoli, and in Garde a vue with Michel Serrault and Lino Ventura.

Romy Schneider starred in Bertrand Tavernier's Death Watch, playing a dying woman whose last days are watched on national television via a camera implanted in the brain of a journalist.

Romy Schneider had love affairs with Oswalt Kolle and actor Bruno Ganz.

Romy Schneider had a brief affair with Jean-Louis Trintignant while filming The Train.

Romy Schneider had in 1974 a brief affair with Jacques Dutronc while filming That Most Important Thing: Love.

In 1975, Romy Schneider married Daniel Biasini, her private secretary; they divorced in 1981.

However, Romy Schneider's friend and sister of Laurent Petin, Claude Petin, said that she no longer drank at the time of her death and that she is convinced it was a natural death.

Romy Schneider was found dead in her Paris apartment on 29 May 1982.