Natasha Lytess  Natasha Lytess (born 16 May 1911, Berlin, Germany – died 12 May 1963, Zurich, Switzerland) was an actress, writer and drama coach. Born Natalia Postmann and also known as Tala Forman, she had studied with the director Max Reinhardt and appeared in the repertory theater. She is said to have had a relationship with the writer Bruno Frank, who is also said to be the father of her daughter Barbara, born in 1943. When the Nazis came to power, and in light of her Jewish heritage, she moved to the United States and settled down in Los Angeles. She had hoped for a great stage career, but her accent and her unfeminine appearance limited the roles she could play. Among her acting credits were appearances in "Comrade X" (1940), "Once Upon a Honeymoon" (1942), and "The House on Telegraph Hill" (1951). Her performance in "Once Upon a Honeymoon" drew praise from "New York Times" critic Bosley Crowther, who said she "shines with clear and poignant brilliance in a brief part as a Jewish chambermaid." Lytess is probably best known for being Marilyn Monroe's acting coach from 1948 to 1955. Other Lytess students included Mamie Van Doren, Virginia Leith, and Ann Savage (who reputedly got her stage name after a particularly "savage" argument with Lytess). Lytess died of cancer four days before her 52nd birthday in Zurich, Switzerland. She was portrayed by Lindsay Crouse in "Norma Jean & Marilyn", and by Embeth Davidtz in "The Secret Life of Marilyn Monroe".