Anecdotes

She was a close friend of the actor Joachim Gottschalk. His suicide in 1943 affected her so much, that she began to suffer from severe asthma attacks and forced to undergo treatment in Davos, Switzerland. As a result, she made no further film appearances after Les aventures fantastiques du Baron Munchhausen (1943) until two years after the war.

Was awarded the Max Reinhardt Prize in 1930 as best up-and-coming actress, presented by Reinhardt himself.

Studied dancing under Mary Wigman.

Moved to the United States after her mother`s death to open the Karen Horney clinic in New York City, in honor of her achievements, and finally became US citizen (1953).

Was a left hander.

One of the great German actresses, she received an Honorary Bambi award in 1965 for her impressive career and her performances that have "graced the screen".

Got her first film role after being screen-tested by the Robert Siodmak at Ufa in mid-1930. She was subsequently cast in Adieux (1930).

Her second husband, Hanns Swarzenski, was curator at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston.

After her success in Liebe, Tod und Teufel (1934), she was offered a five-year contract by Ufa, which she turned down, preferring to chose roles which she deemed suitable.

Daughter of Karen Horney, a German psychoanalyst, and Oscar Horney, an industrial from Berlin.

Attended acting classes at the Ilka-Grüning-Schule in Berlin.

Is interred in the cemetery of Weilheim-Wilzhofen.

Lived for several years in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Her favorite hobby was collecting books about fables and fairy tales.

Has been described as a cross between Zara Leander and Marlene Dietrich.

Hers is one of the celebrity names that appear in the Guess Who scene of Inglourious Basterds (2009).