Actress. One of Hungary’s most popular film and theatre stars. Born in Budapest, she made her acting debut in 1934 and quickly won screen idol status with “Car of Dreams” (1934), which sparked an Eastern European vogue for sophisticated comedies. Tolnay’s cover girl looks and breezy style made her a natural for the genre and she went on to star in such titles as “Stay Good Until Death” (1936),  “My Daughter Is Different” (1937),  and “The Lady Is a Little Crazy” (1938),  typically as a virginal tease.  At the same time she impressed theatre critics as Juliet in “Romeo and Juliet”,  which she performed throughout the nation.  She was still cast in glamorous roles in the years following World War II but as she grew older she greatly broadened her range,  particularly in her work with the National and Madach theatres.   Despite later Communist censorship of the arts,  Tolnay was able to use her star power to bring notable American plays to her country.  She played Blanche in Tennessee Williams’ “A Streetcar Named Desire”,  Martha in Edward Albee’s “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?”,  and Maude in Colin Higgins’ “Harold and Maude”,  all in their first Hungarian productions.  Overall she appeared in 85 films and 30 plays.  A statue of Tolnay stands in front of the National Theatre in Budapest.    (bio by: Bobb Edwards)