The grand, highly flamboyant star Alla Nazimova of Hollywood silent films lived an equally grand, flamboyant life off-camera. She was a box-office star for Metro Pictures. She played exotic, liberal women confronted by great anguish. She is known for starring in the lead role of Camille opposite Rudolph Valentino and other box-office successes such as Revelation, Toys of Fate and The Red Lantern.
Success in the industry led to Nazimova producing her own movies which were bold and experimental. They were also commercial failures though hailed as great artistic efforts today. She bought property on Sunset Boulevard and turned it into The Garden of Allah. Her home was the centerpiece for many glamorous private parties. She eventually turned her home into a residential hotel, later selling it and residing in Villa 24 until her death in 1945.
She was godmother to Nancy Reagan being close friends with Nancy's mother,, stage actress, Edith Luckett.
She was a LESBIAN. It is believed that Nazimova coined the phrase sewing circle as code to refer to lesbian or bisexual actresses of her day who concealed their true sexuality.
She received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1960.