Top 10 Facts about Romy Schneider

The Austrian-born French actress Romy Schneider (Rosemarie Magdalena Albach-Retty) acting in ‘La Califfa’. Parma, 1970. Photo by Rino Petrosino on Wikimedia

Top 10 Facts about Romy Schneider

Romy Schneider was a German-French actress. She was born Rosemarie Magdalena Albach on 23rd September 1938 in Vienna, six months after the Anschluss of Austria into Nazi Germany. Her parents were Magda Schneider and Wolf Albach-Retty.

Her mother and father were actors. Rosa Albach-Retty, her paternal grandmother was also a renowned actress. Magda Schneider, her mother was German while her father was Austrian. At the age of four weeks, Romy and her brother, Wolf-Dieter were taken to Schonau am Königssee in Germany where they grew up at their grandparents’ home.

At the age of one, Romy was put under the care of a governess because her parents were rarely present due to their acting careers. However, in 1943, her parents separated and were divorced 1945. Romy and her brother were left under the care of their mother and stepfather.

She officially began her career at the age of 15 in the German Heimatfilm genre. Romy went ahead and played the central character of Empress Elisabeth of Austria from 1955 to 1957. She later moved to France where she had a successful career under the most notable film directors of that era.

Here are the Top 10 Facts about Romy Schneider:

1. Romy was born into a Family of Actors

Romy Schneider was born into a family of renowned actors. Her parents, Magda Schneider and Wolf Albach-Retty were actors. Rosa Albach-Retty, her paternal grandmother was also an actress.

Magdalena Maria Schneider who was born on 17th May 1909 was a German singer and an actress. Her father, Wolfgang Helmuth Albert Albach was also a renowned Australian actor. Her grandmother was an Australian film and stage actress.

2. She was Raised by Her Grandparents and Governess

German-born French actress Romy Schneider (Rosemarie Magdalena Albach-Retty) smiles as Elisabeth of Austria in the film Sissi. Photo by Unknown author on Wikimedia

After four weeks of her birth, Romy Schneider and her brother Wolf-Dieter were taken to Schonau am Königssee in Germany. This was at their grandparents, Franz Xaver and Maria Schneider’s home where they grew up. It was at the country estate of Mariengrund.

At the age of one year, Romy Schneider was given into the hands of a governess. This was due to the rare presence of their parents because of their engagement in acting.

3. Romy Enrolled on a Girls’ Boarding School where her Acting Interest began

Romy Schneider was enrolled in the elementary school of Schonau in September 1944. She was later moved to the girls’ boarding school at Castle Gildenstein. This was a private school of the Augustinian Canonesses of the Congregation of Notre Dame.

At the boarding school, Romy Schneider discovered her interest in acting. She developed a passion for acting which was clear during her theatrical performances on stage.

In her diary entry of 10th June 1952, Romy Schneider had written: “If it were up to me, I would immediately become an actress. Every time I see a nice movie, my first thoughts are about the idea, I have to become an actress.”

4. She was Under her Mother’s Care after her Parents’ Divorce

Romy Schneider. Photo by Unknown author on Wikimedia

Romy Schneider left Gildenstein school on 12th July 1953 with the degree of Mittlere Reife. She later moved to Cologne to join her mother during the summer holidays. Her mother lived in Cologne with the restaurateur and entrepreneur Hans Herbert.

In 1945, her parents officially divorced after their separation which lasted for two years. Magda took charge of Romy Schneider as well as her brother Wolf-Dieter.

5. Romy began her Acting Career at the Age of 15 under her Stepfather

After moving in with her mother and stepfather, Romy Schneider expressed her acting desire to Magda. At the age of 15, her mother started supervising her career.

Romy often appeared alongside her mother in some of the acting scenes. However, her career was also overseen by her stepfather Blatzheim. Schneider indicated that her stepfather had an unhealthy interest in her.

6. Schneider’s Breakthrough came 2 Years after her Film Debut

German actress Romy Schneider arrived at Madrid’s Barajas airport on September 5, 1965. Photo by Iberia Airlines on Wikimedia

Romy debuted on the film scene in 1953 at the age of fifteen. However, she never came into the limelight immediately as she was overshadowed by other actors.

Her breakthrough came two years later in 1955 with her portrayal of Empress Elisabeth of Austria in the romantic biopic Sissi. She also followed up her gradual rise in the romantic biopic Sissi in two sequels. This is how Romy Schneider broke into the film scene and became a major success.

7. She Left Germany for France at the Age of 24

After successful stints in Germany with French actor Alain Delon, Romy Schneider decided to take a major step in life. She left Germany for Paris, France where she became a star.

Romy began gaining the interest of top film directors of those eras slowly after she decided to live and work in France. She worked with top directors like Orson Welles for The Trial, Luchino Visconti and several other top film directors.

8. Romy had a Brief but Successful Stint in Hollywood

Romy Schneider. Photo by Engelbert Reineke on Wikimedia

Working with top film directors in France, Romy Schneider’s continued having breakthroughs on the international stage. Her movies in the 1960s were a major success and attracted more attention from renowned directors.

Romy Schneider got to Hollywood where she had a brief but successful stint. She featured in a starring role in Good Neighbour Sam and What’s New Pussycat? in which she played a co-starring role.

9. Schneider had Romantic Relationships with Nine People

During her 20s, Romy Schneider got engaged to French actor Alain Delon who she moved to France but later broke up. She then married German director and actor Harry Meyen in 1966 and had a son. However, their son died at the age of 14 after a spiked fence pricked his femoral artery.

After breaking up with Harry, Rony had love affairs with Oswalt Kolle in 1964 and actor Bruno Ganz in the early 1970s. Romy later had a brief affair with Jean-Louis Trintignant while filming a movie. In 1974, she also had a brief affair with Jacques Dutronc.

Romy got married to Daniel Biasini who was her private secretary in 1975 and divorced in 1981. She finally had a last romantic relationship with film producer Laurent Petin.

10. Romy Lost her Son and her Daughter is an Actress

Sarah Biasini photographed by Studio Harcourt Paris on Wikimedia

In 1966, Romy Schneider and German director and actor Harry Meyen had a son known as David Christopher. Unfortunately, David died at the age of 14 after an attempt to climb the spiked fence at his stepfather’s parent’s home. His femoral artery was punctured and died, with his death affecting Romy.

After her marriage to Daniel Biasini, Romy Schneider had a daughter. Sarah Magdalena Biasini later became an actress.