Exotic, brunette star of German silent cinema. Following studies in art history and metalwork, she began training at the acting academy of the Deutsche Theater in Berlin and was subsequently engaged by Max Reinhardt's company. In films from 1913, five years later setting up her own short-lived production company, the Erna Morena Film GmbH. By the mid-20's, she was regarded as one of the biggest stars in German films, making her best films under the direction of Richard Oswald ("Tagebuch einer Verlorenen"), Murnau ("Der Gang in die Nacht") and Joe May ("Das indische Grabmahl", as Savitri). Her career declined sharply after the advent of sound, though she was still regularly seen in supporting roles during the 30's.
