Baroness Veronika von Goldschmidt-Rothschild, also known as Bina Rothschild and Veronika Rothschild (née Countess Katharina Eleonore Veronika Irma Luise Henckel von Donnersmarck; 8 February 1902 – 6 October 1965), was a German aristocrat and actress known for playing the Queen of Transylvania in the 1964 musical film My Fair Lady.
Bina Rothschild | |
|---|---|
| Born | Katharina Eleonore Veronika Irma Luise Gräfin Henckel von Donnersmarck 8 February 1902 Berlin, German Empire |
| Died | 6 October 1965 (aged 63) Mandeville Canyon, California, United States |
| Noble family | Henckel von Donnersmarck (by birth) Goldschmidt-Rothschild (by marriage) |
| Spouse(s) | Baron Erich von Goldschmidt-Rothschild |
| Issue | Baron Patrick von Goldschmidt-Rothschild |
| Father | Count Lazarus Henckel von Donnersmarck |
| Mother | Countess Vera von Kanitz |
| Occupation | actress |
Early life and ancestry
editRothschild was born Countess Katharina Eleonore Veronika Irma Luise Henckel von Donnersmarck on 8 February 1902 in Berlin to Count Lazarus Herbert Patrik Valentin Henckel von Donnersmarck (1869–1940) and Countess Vera Maria Elisabeth Marequita Maximiliane Charlotte Luise von Kanitz (1875–1962).[1][2] She was a member of the House Henckel of Donnersmarck, a rich Austro-German noble family that originated in modern-day Slovakia.[3] Her maternal grandfather, Count Georg von Kanitz, was a German military attaché in Persia during World War I.
Marriage and issue
editOn 3 November 1925, she married Baron Erich Max Benedikt von Goldschmidt-Rothschild (14 January 1899 – 13 June 1987), the son of Baron Maximilian von Goldschmidt-Rothschild and his wife, Baroness Minna Karoline von Rothschild (1857–1903).[4][5] Her husband was a member of the Goldschmidt and Rothschild banking dynasties.[4] She gave birth to a son:
- Baron Patrick Maximilien von Goldschmidt-Rothschild, (4 August 1928 – 15 June 1993); married on 1 July 1967 in Los Angeles to Annika Roman (21 October 1928 – 5 April 2008). They have:
- Baron Eric von Goldschmidt-Rothschild (b. 1 March 1970)
- Baroness Kristina von Goldschmidt-Rothschild (b. 29 July 1973)[6]
Biography
editRothschild played the role of the Queen of Transylvania in the 1964 Lerner and Loewe musical film My Fair Lady, based on George Bernard Shaw's 1913 play Pygmalion.[7] She was not trained as an actress, and was considered by Cecil Beaton, an artistic director for the film, to be the only non-actress suitable to play the role, stating that she had "impeccable deportment and breeding".[8]
George Cukor, who directed the film, helped her prepare for the role.[9] Beaton had originally wanted Cukor to cast Fritzi Massary for the role, but she demanded too much pay.[10] The part then went to Rothschild, who was costumed with a triple-pronged tiara and three-tiered diamond necklace designed by Beaton.[10]
She died on 6 October 1965 in Mandeville Canyon of California, aged 63.[11][12]
References
edit- ^ "Gräfin Katharina Eleonore Veronika Irma Luise Henckel von Donnersmarck b. 8 Feb 1902 Berlin, DE d. 6 Oct 1965: Geneagraphie - Families all over the world". geneagraphie.com. Archived from the original on 24 April 2021. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
- ^ "Designs for Ornamental Villas by Robinson, P. F." www.abaa.org. Archived from the original on 2021-04-25. Retrieved 2021-04-24.
- ^ "Baroness Bina von Donnersmarck Rothschild | New York Jewelry Diary". www.newyorkjewelrydiary.com. Archived from the original on 2021-04-24. Retrieved 2021-04-24.
- ^ a b "Theodor Körner's Sämmtliche Werke by Karl Streckfuss on Eric Chaim Kline, Bookseller". Eric Chaim Kline, Bookseller. Archived from the original on 2021-04-24. Retrieved 2021-04-24.
- ^ "Katharina Eleonore Veronika Irma Luise Henckel von Donnersmarck ( )..." Getty Images. Archived from the original on 2021-04-24. Retrieved 2021-04-24.
- ^ "Veronika Henckel von Donnersmarck, Baroness Rothschild". geni_family_tree. Archived from the original on 2021-04-24. Retrieved 2021-04-24.
- ^ "My Fair Lady (1964) at Reel Classics: Cast List". www.reelclassics.com.
- ^ "People | New York Jewelry Diary". www.newyorkjewelrydiary.com. Archived from the original on 2021-04-24. Retrieved 2021-04-24.
- ^ "MY FAIR LADY: 50th Anniversary Edition Arrives October 27 On Blu-ray+ DVD". Archived from the original on 2021-04-24. Retrieved 2021-04-25.
- ^ a b Pepper, Terence; Beaton, Cecil; Conrad, Peter; Beaton, Sir Cecil Walter Hardy; Britain), National Portrait Gallery (Great; Allemagne), Kunstmuseum (Wolfsburg (January 1, 2004). Beaton Portraits. Yale University Press. ISBN 0300102895 – via Google Books.
- ^ Archiv für Sippenforschung und alle verwandten Gebiete, Jrg. 43-44, Hft. 65-72 (1977-1978), p. 288.
- ^ Genealogisches Handbuch des Adels, vol. 130, 2003, p. 229.