Hildegard Knef

Hildegard Frieda Albertine Knef was a German actress, singer, and writer. She was billed in some English language films as Hildegard Neff or Hildegarde Neff.

Hildegard Knef was born in Ulm. Her parents were Hans Theodor and Friede Augustine Knef. Her father, who was a decorated First World War veteran, died of syphilis when she was only six months. Then her mother moved to Berlin and worked in a factory. Knef began studying acting at the age of 14, in 1940. She left school atto become an apprentice animator with Universum Film AG. After she had a successful screen test, she went to the State Film School at Babelsberg, Berlin, where she studied acting, ballet and elocution. Josef Goebbels, who was Hitlers propaganda minister, wrote to her and asked to meet her, but Knefs friends wanted her to stay away from him.

Source: Wikipedia