Lucie Mannheim

Lucie Mannheim (30 April 1899 – 28 July 1976) was a renowned German singer and actress, celebrated for her dynamic performances in both theater and film. Born in Berlin-Köpenick, she pursued drama studies and quickly gained acclaim, captivating audiences with her portrayals in significant roles such as Nora in Henrik Ibsen's *A Doll’s House*, Marie in Georg Büchner's *Woyzeck*, and Juliet in Shakespeare’s *Romeo and Juliet*. Mannheim's film career took off in 1923, and she starred in a variety of silent and sound films, including the 1929 production *Atlantik*, one of the earliest adaptations of the Titanic tragedy.

In 1931, the composer Walter Goetze wrote the operetta *Die göttliche Jette* specifically for her talents. However, with the rise of the Nazi regime and her status as a Jew, Mannheim was forced to abandon her career in Germany in 1933, relocating first to Czechoslovakia and then to Britain. In her new home, she starred in Alfred Hitchcock’s 1935 thriller *The 39 Steps* as the ill-fated spy Annabella Smith.

Throughout World War II, she not only acted in films but also contributed to propaganda efforts, famously performing an anti-Hitler rendition of "Lili Marleen" in 1943. In 1941, she married actor Marius Goring. After returning to Germany in 1948, Mannheim continued her acting career, taking on roles in theater and television, including a notable part in the British series *The Adventures of the Scarlet Pimpernel*. Her final screen appearance was in the 1970 TV movie, and she passed away in Braunlage.