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The actress Gerda Maurus was born as Gertrud Pfiel in Croatia. She started her film career at the end of the 20`s.

Director Fritz Lang was as usual in search of new unknown faces for his movies. When he met Gerda Maurus, who had only experiences in theater until then, he offered her the leading role in his next movie "Spione" (28).

Fritz Lang fell in love with her during the shooting which led to a breaking-off with his wife and writer Thea von Harbou.

In the next year played Gerda Maurus again under Fritz Lang`s direction for the science fiction
movie "Die Frau im Mond" (28).

In the sound film era she appeared successful in movies like "Schachmatt" (31), "Der Draufgänger" (31), "Der weisse Dämon/Rauschgift" (32) and "Arzt aus Leidenschaft" (36).

Her charm did not only turn Joseph Goebbels` head but also the communist dramatist Friedrich Wolf.

Especially her protruded cheek bones and her forceful look bewitched the menfolks. It followed successful movies like "Der Dschungel ruft" (36), "Grenzfeuer" (39), "Die gute Sieben" (40) and "Die Freunde meiner Frau" (49).

Gerda Maurus was married with director and writer R.A. Stemmle since 1937.