Actress. She was best known as a star of the National Theatre in Budapest, Hungary, where she appeared in comedies, and plays by William Shakespeare and George Bernard Shaw. Her many noted theatre roles include, 'Béliné,' 'Éva,' 'Portia,' 'Ella Rentheim,' 'Szűz Mária,' 'Júlia,' 'Linka,' and 'Ilona.' She also appeared in a few films. She will be best remembered for playing the leading role of 'Simon Judit' in the film of the same name, "Simon Judit" (1915). The film which was directed by Adolf Mérey, which was written by József Kiss and Adolf Mérey, also starred Artúr Fodor, Vilma Lakos, Márton Rátkai, Artúr Somlay, Béla Vágó, and Aladár Sarkadi. She was born as Ilona Gabrielle Magdolna Alter to Sándor Alter and his wife Paula Nebenzahl in Királyhelmec, Austria-Hungary (now Kralovsky Chlmec, Slovakia), on November 6, 1884. She was educated locally and later attended and graduated from the prestigious Academy of Drama and Film in Budapest, Hungary, in 1905. Following her education, she began her acting career in Kolozsvár, Romania. She then joined the famed National Theatre in Budapest, Hungary, where she appeared in many stage productions of several plays, beginning in 1908. She then was given a contract to join the Hungarian Theatre in December of 1912. She also continued with the National Theatre in Budapest, Hungary, and became a life member in 1928. She also appeared with the Comedy Theatre and continued with the Hungarian Theatre from 1914 to 1935. During this time she also made the transition to films. She made her actual film debut playing the role of 'The Princess' in the film "Today And Tomorrow" (1912, or "Ma és holnap"). The film which was directed by Michael Curtiz, which was written by Imre Roboz and Iván Siklósi, also starred Artúr Somlay, Gyula Abonyi, and Jenöné Veszprémy. Besides, playing the leading role of 'Simon Judit' in the film of the same name, "Simon Judit" (1915), and playing the role of 'The Princess' in the film "Today And Tomorrow" (1912, or "Ma és holnap"), her many other film credits include, playing the role of 'Inokay's Wife' in the film drama, "The Old Scoundrel" (1932, or "A vén gazember"). The film which was directed by Heinz Hille, which was written by Zsolt Harsányi and Emeric Pressburger, which was based on the novel by Kálmán Mikszáth, also starred Rosy Barsony, Tibor Halmay, and Károly Sugár. Her last film role was playing the 'Modest Countess' in the film drama, "The Grandmother" (1935, or "A nagymama"). The film which was directed by István György, which was written by Imre Farkasand based on the play by Gergely Csiky, also starred László Perényi, Kálmán Rózsahegyi, Éva Szörényi, and Imre Toronyi. She retired from films shortly thereafter. She also became an acting teacher and opened up an acting school in Budapest, Hungary, in about 1936. Her students included actress Katalin Karády and actress Zita Perczel. She continued teaching acting and appearing in the theater until her death. She passed away in Budapest, Hungary, on March 5, 1940, at the age of 55, and she was buried in the Farkasréti temető (aka Farkasréti Cemetery), in Budapest, Hungary. She was married to the Hungarian writer Kálmán Csathó (1881-1964). The couple had no children.