Actress. The exotic vamp of roughly 15 French movies, she was one of the last performers to have starred in silent films as an adult. Born Paula Illiescu in the small town of Corabia, she took to show business early and made her silver screen bow in the 1928 "Le Desir". After first attracting major notice as Chiquita in 1929's "Captain Francaise" she received good reviews for the role of Pola in Rene Clair's 1930 musical comedy "Under the Roofs of Paris". Also in 1930 she had the lead in "Paradia Paramount", Romania's first 'talkie' which showcased her singing ability. Thru the 1930s Pola divided her time between Paris and her native land, her other notable films including the 1930 drama "Little Red Riding Hood", 1931's comedy "Televiziune", and in 1933 both "L'Ainge Gardien" and "Bastille Day". Pola earned her final credits as Myrrha in the 1938 "Le Tigre du Bengale" and "Le Tombeau Hindou", then in 1939 fled Europe for the United States. She worked as a Red Cross volunteer nurse during World War II and took American citizenship in 1946. She was married twice, first to American Air Corps major Charles Grenier who was killed in an accident shortly after the marriage, then second and last to Jim Gibson. Pola lived out her days in Southern California and was well liked in her community, though few knew of her time before the public.
Actress. The exotic vamp of roughly 15 French movies, she was one of the last performers to have starred in silent films as an adult. Born Paula Illiescu in the small town of Corabia, she took to show business early and made her silver screen bow in the 1928 "Le Desir". After first attracting major notice as Chiquita in 1929's "Captain Francaise" she received good reviews for the role of Pola in Rene Clair's 1930 musical comedy "Under the Roofs of Paris". Also in 1930 she had the lead in "Paradia Paramount", Romania's first 'talkie' which showcased her singing ability. Thru the 1930s Pola divided her time between Paris and her native land, her other notable films including the 1930 drama "Little Red Riding Hood", 1931's comedy "Televiziune", and in 1933 both "L'Ainge Gardien" and "Bastille Day". Pola earned her final credits as Myrrha in the 1938 "Le Tigre du Bengale" and "Le Tombeau Hindou", then in 1939 fled Europe for the United States. She worked as a Red Cross volunteer nurse during World War II and took American citizenship in 1946. She was married twice, first to American Air Corps major Charles Grenier who was killed in an accident shortly after the marriage, then second and last to Jim Gibson. Pola lived out her days in Southern California and was well liked in her community, though few knew of her time before the public.
Bio by: Bob Hufford
Inscription
She Lived Her Years With Grace
Charm and Courage
Advertisement
See more Illery memorials in:
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
