Militza Envald Evgenievna Poliakoff

Star dancer, Militza Envald arrived in Paris in 1919, fleeing the consequences of the 1917 revolution. Married on March 28, 1936 in Clichy-la-Garenne to Vladimir De Poliakoff who was an opera singer. Mother of Olga (1928-2009) known as Olga Varen, television director, Tania (1930-1980) known as Odile Versois, actress, Militza (1932-1988) known as Hélène Vallier, actress, and Marina, the youngest of the four.

Although both members of the Russian provincial nobility, Vladimir de Poliakoff and Militza Envald experienced economic difficulties in France, where the husband worked as a worker with his four dependent children.

The Envald family. Young Militza is in the center of the photo with the white shirt (Public Domain Photo)