Sigrid Gurie (May 18, 1911 – August 14, 1969) was a Norwegian-American actress noted for her contributions to the film industry during the late 1930s and early 1940s. Gurie made her Hollywood debut in 1936, where she was famously dubbed "the new Garbo" by film mogul Sam Goldwyn, who touted her as "the siren of the fjords." However, when it was revealed that she was born in Flatbush, New York, Goldwyn humorously referred to it as "the greatest hoax in movie history."
Gurie's notable performances included her role as Kokashin, the daughter of Kublai Khan, in the 1938 film The Adventures of Marco Polo. She further established her acting credentials with memorable roles in films such as Algiers (1938), Three Faces West (1940), and Voice in the Wind (1944). Additionally, she appeared in the acclaimed Norwegian film Kampen om tungtvannet (1948), which was inspired by her brother's book, Skis Against the Atom.
In the late 1940s, Gurie pursued her passion for art at the Kann Art Institute in West Hollywood, where she honed her skills in oil painting and portraiture, creating various landscapes and sketches. From 1961 until her passing in 1969, she resided in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, where she continued to paint and designed jewelry for Royal Copenhagen in Denmark. Tragically, her life was cut short due to complications from a kidney issue that led to a fatal blood clot.
