Wanda de Boncza (8 March 1872 – 15 August 1902) was a French actress, born Wanda-Marie-Émilie Rutkowska.
Wanda-Marie-Émilie Rutkowska was born in Paris, the daughter of Polish-Jewish immigrants. [1] She studied comedy at the Conservatoire de Paris with Gustave Worms. [2] [3]
Wanda de Boncza was considered a stage beauty in Paris, [4] acting first at the Odéon, and then at the Comédie-Française. One English-language critic in 1901 described her stage presence as "little and dark, Parisian and perverse, she whose eyes are enigmas ... beautiful in her own odd way." [5] Her stage appearances included roles in Fiancée (1894), [6] La Barynia (1894), [1] On ne badine pas avec l'amour (1896), [7] Struensée (1898), La Conscience de l'enfant (1899), Alkestis (1900), and Le Marquis de Priola (1902). [8]
Wanda de Boncza died in Paris in 1902, aged 30 years, [9] from appendicitis [10] [11] and an attempted surgical intervention. [1] [8] Some reports also mentioned that morphine addiction may have contributed to her early death. [12] A few months after her death, [13] there was an auction of her jewelry (especially pearls), gowns, and other possessions, yielding over a million francs, more than enough to pay off her gambling and other debts. [2] [14] [15] [16]
Wanda de Boncza (8 March 1872 – 15 August 1902) was a French actress, born Wanda-Marie-Émilie Rutkowska.
Wanda-Marie-Émilie Rutkowska was born in Paris, the daughter of Polish-Jewish immigrants. [1] She studied comedy at the Conservatoire de Paris with Gustave Worms. [2] [3]
Wanda de Boncza was considered a stage beauty in Paris, [4] acting first at the Odéon, and then at the Comédie-Française. One English-language critic in 1901 described her stage presence as "little and dark, Parisian and perverse, she whose eyes are enigmas ... beautiful in her own odd way." [5] Her stage appearances included roles in Fiancée (1894), [6] La Barynia (1894), [1] On ne badine pas avec l'amour (1896), [7] Struensée (1898), La Conscience de l'enfant (1899), Alkestis (1900), and Le Marquis de Priola (1902). [8]
Wanda de Boncza died in Paris in 1902, aged 30 years, [9] from appendicitis [10] [11] and an attempted surgical intervention. [1] [8] Some reports also mentioned that morphine addiction may have contributed to her early death. [12] A few months after her death, [13] there was an auction of her jewelry (especially pearls), gowns, and other possessions, yielding over a million francs, more than enough to pay off her gambling and other debts. [2] [14] [15] [16]