Biografia

A long-time social lioness in the film community, her many parties were attended by most of the top names in Hollywood over the years.

Anita is name-dropped in the Depression-era dance marathon movie Non si uccidono così anche i cavalli? (1969), which is set in 1932. In one segment, Michael Sarrazin''s character Robert tells his partner Jane Fonda that he saw a movie starring Anita and Richard Cromwell wherein she goes blind and dies of a brain tumor. In truth, Anita and Cromwell did appear in two movies but they were post-1932 -- Most Precious Thing in Life (1934) and Il cattivo la inseguiva ancora (1940). In neither of these two films, or in any other film Anita appeared in, did she ever go blind and die of a brain tumor. The film Tramonto (1939), DOES have Bette Davis going blind and dying of a brain tumor with George Brent by her side, but it too was released much later than 1932.

Auditioned and screen-tested for the role of Scarlett O'Hara in Via col vento (1939), which went to Vivien Leigh.

She appeared in three Oscar Best Picture nominees: Sogno di una notte di mezza estate (1935), La vita del dottor Pasteur (1936) and Avorio nero (1936).

A lifelong registered Republican she was one of the many notable names who were in attendance at the Inauguration Ceremony of Dwight D. Eisenhower.