Brigitte Helm
Dutch postcard, nr. 325. Photo: Filma
German actress Brigitte Helm (1908-1996) is a legend because of her dual role as Maria and her double the evil Maria in the silent SF classic Metropolis. After Metropolis she made a string of over 30 films in which she almost always had the starring role. She easily made the transition to sound films, before she abruptly retired in 1935.