Maria Forescu was born on January 15, 1875 in Czernowitz, Bukovina, Austria-Hungary [now Chernivtsi, Ukraine]. She was an actress, known for Peer Gynt (1919), Peer Gynt - 2. Teil: Peer Gynts Wanderjahre und Tod (1919) and He or I (1930). She was married to Harry Piel. She died on October 28, 1947 in Berlin, Germany.
She first studied music, acting and singing at the conservatory in Prague and afterwards she became popular as an operetta singer.
When the National Socialist seized the power in Germany her career came to an abrupt end because of her Jewish origin.
At the beginning of the 20s she became famous as a singer and she got engagements in whole Europe and finally came to Berlin too.
She was deprived of living a respected life and was prohibited from engaging in any professional activities.
She became one of the most busy movie actress of the 20s in the German silent movie era. Beside it she was also successful as an operetta singer at the beginning of her career.