Sofia and her brother, Yaroslav, initially lived with relatives at Yazlovets, near Buchach but then moved to Ternopil. There, Sofia attended gymnasium and was taught sewing, bookkeeping, and acting. In 1927, she emigrated to Paris,[4] aged 20, to attend film school and become an actress.[5] Yablonska first found work as a window-cleaner, but eventually landed a small role in a Pathé film.[4] She also worked as a model.[4]