Elsa Marguérite Galafrés

Elsa Galafrés (sometimes spelt Elza; 23 May 1879 – 16 April 1977) was a German stage and film actress.

Early life Galafrés was born in Berlin, Germany. She trained as a pianist, and debuted as a concert pianist at the age of 14 on 1 December 1893, together with the Berlin Philharmonic. Although this performance was well received, she did not pursue a career in music, instead deciding to become an actor.

Theatre career At the age of fifteen, Galafrés gave recitations at a charity concert in Havelberg. She took lessons from the actress and singer Ottilie Genée and caught the interest of the director Friedrich Haase, who hired her to play Ellen Friborg in Am Spieltisch des Lebens at a guest performance in Halle in December 1894. They were married until 1949, although by that time they had been separated for several years. After the divorce from Dohnányi, Galafrés emigrated to Canada, where she met her third husband, the physician Clifton Stewart. The couple lived near Vancouver until her death in 1977.

Filmography 1912: Trilby 1915: Durch Nacht zum Licht