**Ludmilla Tchérina (1924-2004)** was a French étoile ballerina and actress, celebrated for her ability to seamlessly blend dance and acting on the big screen.

Her film career was profoundly marked by her dance artistry. After a small but significant cameo in *The Red Shoes* (1948), Tchérina gained international renown with the films of Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger.

Her most iconic role is undoubtedly that of Stella/Olga/Giulietta in the opera-film *The Tales of Hoffmann* (1951), where she exhibited extraordinary dramatic and physical intensity. She also played prominent roles in *Oh... Rosalinda!* (1955) and *Honeymoon* (1959).

Tchérina specialized in elegant characters, often tormented or tragic, artistic roles that enabled her to utilize her innate grace, her regal bearing, and a magnetic stage presence.