Anna Held | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Helene Anna Held 19 March 1872 |
| Died | 12 August 1918 (aged 46) New York City, U.S. |
| Resting place | Gate of Heaven Cemetery |
| Occupations |
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| Spouse |
Maximo Carrera
(m. 1894; div. 1908) |
| Partner | Florenz Ziegfeld (1897–1913) |
| Children | 1 |
Helene Anna Held (19 March 1872 – 12 August 1918) was a Polish-born French stage performer of Jewish origin on Broadway. While appearing in London, she was spotted by impresario Florenz Ziegfeld, who brought her to America as his common-law wife. From 1896 through 1910, she was one of Broadway's most celebrated leading ladies, presented in a succession of musicals as a charming, coquettish Parisian singer and comedienne, with an hourglass figure and an off-stage reputation for exotic behavior, such as bathing in 40 gallons of milk a day to maintain her complexion. Detractors implied that her fame owed more to Ziegfeld's promotional flair than to any intrinsic talent, but her audience allure was undeniable for over a decade, with several of her shows setting house attendance records for their time. Her uninhibited style also inspired the long-running series of popular revues, the Ziegfeld Follies.