Olga Petrova
Acting
Biography
Olga Petrova (née Muriel Harding) was a British-American actress, screenwriter and playwright. Not to be confused with the Russian silent film actress of the same name.
Born: May 10, 1884
Known For
The Soul Market
Having made public her disdain for wealthy men, musical comedy actress Elaine Elton is nonetheless ardently pursued by a handsome young millionaire who, for her sake, poses as his own chauffeur. A romance blossoms, but Elaine cannot accept the handsome millionaire's marriage proposal; she has already promised to marry a powerful producer who has threatened to blacklist her from Broadway if she refuses to become his bride.
The Waiting Soul
This morality play of the starts off with Grace Vaughn running off with married man Dudley Kent (Wyndham Standing). While sailing to England, they meet Mr. and Mrs. Hargrove. Mrs. Hargrove tries to talk Grace out of ruining her life, but the girl won't listen. After a few months, Kent leaves Grace and she gets mixed up with a woman who runs a house of ill repute.
Playing with Fire
Jean Servian's eyesight is failing and is desperate for money, marries wealthy widower Geoffrey Vane after telling him that he must be satisfied with her gratitude rather than her love. Then, following an affair with artist Philip Derblay, who finally leaves her, Jean settles down to a quiet, boring life with Geoffrey, who knows nothing about her failed romance. Years later, however, after Lucille, Geoffrey's daughter by his first wife, becomes engaged to Philip, Jean feels compelled to tell the story of her own affair with him. The disclosure has little effect as Lucille makes no change in her wedding plans, but then, when she breaks in on a violent argument between Philip and Lucille, Jean accidentally shoots and kills her former lover. A trial results in her acquittal, however, after which Jean realizes that she really does love Geoffrey, who easily forgives his wife for her past indiscretion.
Heart of a Painted Woman
Young Martha Redmond, a poor girl from a small town, leaves to find a singing career in New York City. She doesn't find success as a singer, but finds a job as a model for a prominent artist, and soon becomes his mistress. When her lover throws her over to marry the daughter of a wealthy man, she becomes a "fallen women", a plaything for wealthy playboys. She meets Barrett, a millionaire's son, and begins to wonder if she might have a future with him, but it seems like he'll turn out to be just like "all the others".
My Madonna
Inspired by a Robert W. Service poem, the story concerns a Parisian demimonde named Lucille who becomes the model of an aspiring artist named Robert. Falling in love with Robert, Lucille endeavors to spare him disappointment by secretly buying his "unsaleable" paintings. Luck of luck, one of his portraits of Lucille, "My Madonna," wins first prize in an art contest.
What Will People Say?
Persis Cabot, the daughter of a multi-millionaire meets young officer Harvey Forbes and falls in love but cannot marry him because of her father’s financial reverses. She enters a marriage of convenience, but her husband is a philander who makes her miserable. Despite his faithlessness he is possessive of Persis and driven by jealousy he attempts to kill her, but Harvey rescues her, and they are united at last.
The Panther Woman
Orphan Patience Sparhawk grows up poor until she becomes the ward of the wealthy Miss Tremont. Eventually out of gratitude Patience marries Miss Tremont's nephew, Beverly Peale, out of gratitude only to discover he is a drug user, making their marriage unhappy. When Beverly is found dead from a drug overdose Patience is accused of murder, put on trial and sentenced to die in the electric chair but is saved at the eleventh hour.
The Black Butterfly
Sonia Smirnov, a Paris opera singer known as "The Black Butterfly", starts an affair with young Alan Hall. Hall, however, is still pining over his previous lover, a young peasant girl.
Law of the Land
In order to save her mother from disgrace, Margaret marries Richard Harding even though she really loves Geoffrey Morton.
Exile
Vincento Perez, the governor of the Portuguese colony of Exile, is an unscrupulous and brutal man who is hated by the natives. Furthering his schemes, Perez tries to force silk dealers out of business, and reveals his plans to government engineer Richmond Harvey in a letter appealing for the American's help.
Filmography
as Patience Sparhawk
as Lucille Caruthers
as Anita Courtland
as Laurel Carlisle, M.D.
as Marion Ashley
as Laura Sutphen
as Claudia Perez
as Bianca Sylva
as Margaret Harding
as The Princess / Grace Leslie
as Heloise Broulette
as Grace Vaughan
as Eve, in the Garden of Eden
as Mary O'Brien
as Sonia Smirnov / Marie - The Convent Girl
as Norma Russell (as Madame Olga Petrova)
as Bianca
as Thora Davis
as Jean Serian
as Elaine Elton (as Olya Petrova)
as Persis Cabot
as Lucille
as Jeanne Lefarge
as Martha Redmond
as Stella