Ludmilla Tchérina

Ludmilla Tchérina (born Monique Tchemerzine; 10 October 1924 – 21 March 2004) was a French prima ballerina and actress.

Biography

She studied with Blanche d'Alessandri, Olga Preobrajenska and Clustine. She started dancing at 16 and danced with the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo, where she was spotted by Serge Lifar. She made her Paris debut creating the rôle of Juliet in his Romeo and Juliet in 1942, becoming the youngest prima ballerina in the history of dance. In 1945 she was a principal dancer with the Ballet des Champs-Élysées and performed in Paris concerts with her husband Edmond Audran. She created various rôles in Lifar's ballets including: 'Mephisto Waltz' in 1945, in 1946 and in in 1957. She appeared often with the Paris Opera, the Bolshoi Ballet and the Kirov Ballet as a guest performer.

Tchérina acted in several films including The Red Shoes, , The Tales of Hoffmann, Oh... Rosalinda!! and Luna de Miel. She also appeared in television. In the 1980s she turned to writing and published two novels under her own name, (1973) and (1986).

Tchérina had a lifelong passion for painting and exhibited in many major galleries. She also conceived and executed several monumental sculptures, including Europe à Coeur, chosen in 1991 by the EU to symbolise the union of Europe and now located at the European Parliament. In 1994 she created Europa Operanda, now installed at the French terminal of Eurotunnel.

Personal life Edmond Audran, whom she married in 1946, died in a car accident in 1951. She married Raymond Roi in 1953. The marriage lasted until his death in 1987.

She was decorated with the Officier, Légion d'honneur in 1980.

Death Tchérina died in 2004, aged 79, and is buried at the Montmartre Cemetery, Paris.

Filmography Year Title Role Notes1946 Un revenant Karina 1948 The Red Shoes Irina Boronskaja 1949 Fandango Angélica 1950 Here Is the Beauty Mireille Oslava 1950 La nuit s'achève Danielle Chevalier 1951 The Tales of Hoffmann Giulietta 1951 Clara de Montargis Clara 1951 Parsifal Kundry 1952 Grand Gala Monique 1953 Sins of Rome Amitys 1954 Mata Hari's Daughter Elyne 1954 Sign of the Pagan Princess Pulcheria 1955 Oh... Rosalinda!! Rosalinda 1959 Honeymoon Anna 1962 The Lovers of Teruel Isa 1964 Une ravissante idiote 1969 Salomé