Born: 18 April 1905, Liechtenstein
Died: 1 November 2001
Country most active: Mexico
Also known as: Hermine Kindle
Medea de Novara was a renowned Mexican-Liechtenstein actress, best known for her roles in the Emperor Maximilian Trilogy and her impact on Mexican cinema.
Born Hermine Kindle in Triesen, Liechtenstein, in 1905 to Florian Kindle and Amalie Futscher, she moved to Hollywood in 1925 to pursue acting. In Hollywood, she crossed paths with Mexican director Miguel Contreras Torres (1899–1981), whom she married in Mexico in 1936. Her portrayal of Empress Carlota in Juárez y Maximiliano” (1933) and subsequent films earned her international acclaim, solidifying her as La Dama de la Pantalla (the Lady of the Screen) in Mexican cinema history.”
In 1951, her husband acquired Gutenberg Castle in Balzers, Liechtenstein, realizing Hermine’s dreams. She commuted between Mexico and Liechtenstein, residing in her castle for extended periods. In 1979, Liechtenstein purchased the castle, allowing her to stay. However, feeling contractual obligations were unmet, she returned to her hometown, Triesen. After her husband’s death in 1981, she managed the family’s film business and later married Boris Reynolds García in 1983. Hermine, a member of the Historical Society for the Principality of Liechtenstein since 1959, passed away on November 21, 2001, in Cuernavaca, Mexico.