She is likely best remembered for her portrayal of Maleva, the old Roma fortuneteller in the 1941 horror classic The Wolf Man. Ouspenskaya died from a stroke several days after receiving severe burns in a house fire, which she had caused by falling asleep while smoking a cigarette. The Russian-born actress achieved success as a young stage actress in Russia, and as an elderly woman in Hollywood films. A member of the Moscow Art Theatre, she was directed by Stanislavski, and for the remainder of her life advocated and taught his method. She performed regularly on Broadway and in 1929 she founded the School of Dramatic Art in New York. One of Ouspenskaya's students at the school during this period was the then unknown teenager, Anne Baxter. Vintage glossy 8 x 10 portrait of the actress in a dark coat and cap with veil, signed and inscribed in fountain pen “To Alice, with best wishes, M. Ouspenskaya.” In fine condition. COA PSA/DNA and R&R COA.
