Natasha Lytess: Movies & Filmography

Natasha Lytess, born Natalia Postmann on May 16, 1911, in Berlin, Germany, was a multifaceted figure in the entertainment industry, working as an actress, writer, and renowned drama coach. Also known throughout her life by the aliases Liesl Massary and Tala Forman, she received her theatrical training under the legendary director Max Reinhardt and performed in repertory theater before establishing herself in the film industry. Of Jewish heritage, she was forced to flee her homeland when the Nazis rose to power, eventually settling in Los Angeles in the United States to escape persecution and rebuild her life. Despite her hopes for a flourishing stage career in America, her accent and what was described as an unfeminine appearance limited the roles available to her, steering her increasingly toward the craft of acting instruction rather than on-screen performance. Her acting credits included notable appearances in films such as Comrade X (1940), Once Upon a Honeymoon (1942), and The House on Telegraph Hill (1951), with her performance in the Cary Grant and Ginger Rogers romantic comedy earning particular praise from New York Times critic Bosley Crowther for its clear and poignant brilliance in a brief part as a Jewish chambermaid. As a drama coach, her students included the actresses Mamie Van Doren, Virginia Leith, and Ann Savage, the latter of whom reportedly acquired her stage name following a particularly savage argument with Lytess. She had a daughter, Barbara, born in 1943, whose father is believed to be the writer Leonhard Frank, with whom she had a romantic relationship during her time in Europe. Lytess is most famously remembered for her lengthy and influential partnership with actress Marilyn Monroe, spanning from 1948 to 1956. Working as a drama coach for Columbia Pictures, Lytess was instrumental in convincing Harry Cohn to offer Monroe a six-month contract after viewing her screen test, and she subsequently coached Monroe through more than twenty films. Her dedication to Monroe reportedly evolved into an obsessive attachment, as described by Monroe herself and other students who studied under Lytess's tutelage. The professional relationship came to an end in 1956 when Monroe sent a telegram terminating Lytess's services, concluding a partnership that lasted more than seven years. Lytess passed away from cancer on May 12, 1963, in Zurich, Switzerland, at the age of 51, just four days before what would have been her 52nd birthday. Her life and complicated relationship with Monroe have continued to captivate public interest, leading to her portrayal by Viveca Lindfors in Marilyn: The Untold Story, by Lindsay Crouse in Norma Jean & Marilyn, and by Embeth Davidtz in the docudrama The Secret Life of Marilyn Monroe.