Rafaela Ottiano

Rafaela Ottiano (March 4, 1888 – August 18, 1942) was a prominent Italian-American actress known for her compelling performances on stage and in films. Born in Venice, Italy, she emigrated with her family to the United States, arriving at Ellis Island in 1910. Before her Hollywood debut in 1924, Ottiano made a name for herself on European stages.

Her film career launched with the drama *The Law and the Lady* directed by John L. McCutcheon, where she starred alongside notable actors such as Tyrone Power, Sr. In 1928, she became part of the original Broadway cast of Mae West's acclaimed play *Diamond Lil*, which later transformed into the film *She Done Him Wrong* (1933), with Ottiano reprising her stage role.

Throughout the 1930s, Ottiano gained a reputation for portraying complex, often sinister characters. Her memorable performances include Lena in *As You Desire Me* (1932) alongside Greta Garbo, Mrs. Higgins in the beloved Shirley Temple musical *Curly Top* (1935), and a matron in *Riffraff* (1936) with Jean Harlow and Spencer Tracy. She also played Suzette, the devoted maid to Garbo's character in the classic *Grand Hotel* (1932), a role that was later commemorated in a Broadway musical adaptation by renaming the character Rafaela Ottiano.

Ottiano's final film appearance came in the musical comedy *I Married an Angel* (1942). Over her career, she featured in around 45 films, sharing the screen with luminaries such as Barbara Stanwyck and Katharine Hepburn. A lifelong resident of Times Square during the Prohibition Era, Rafaela Ottiano passed away in 1942 from intestinal cancer at the age of 54.