‏Nina Varela‏

Born near St. Louis in 1902, and trained in Europe in opera as a mezzo-soprano, square-faced, lantern-jawed, full-figured Nina Varela came to the United States in the late 1930s and ended up in Hollywood. During the 40s, 50's, and 60's, she worked frequently at the Shubert Theater, accompanying plays that went on the road, including runs on Broadway. Most notable of those was the musical"The Student Prince," in which she played The Grand Duchess of Anastasia.

When she wasn't on stage, movies and television offered Verla other outlets for her talents. She generally played a no-nonsense matron type. The best-known of the movies were "The President's Lady (1953) and "Madigan" (1968). Her most-seen TV appearances would probably be two episodes of "Gunsmoke."

Varela's sense of humor was showcased in a suggestion to the U.S. patent office in the early 1950s: "How about listing American inventions this way: 'Patented U.S. 1952, invented in Russia in 1952.' Thus they'll have a complete record!"

Varela's last known role was in in the early 1970s. She died in Los Angeles in 1982.