Ella Atherton
Ella Atherton (11 September 1905 – May 1995) was a Scottish-born actress who married an Indian maharaja. After marriage in 1940, she was also known as Ila Devi Rajpipla; Maharani Ella Devi of Rajpipla or H.H. Maharani Ella Devi Sahiba.
Ella Atherton | |
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Born | 11 September 1905 Edinburgh |
Died | May 1995 North Surrey |
Other names | H.H. Maharani Ella Devi Sahiba, Ella Devi Rajpipla |
Early life
Atherton was born in Edinburgh.
Career
Atherton was a silent movie actress, known for her roles in The First Born (1928)[1] and Human Cargo (1929).[2] She was also a successful model. After she married an Indian prince, she abandoned her acting career to pursue other interests, including tiger hunting.[3]
Personal
Atherton married Maharana Shri Sir Vijaysinhji Chhatrasinhji,[4] Maharaja of Rajpipla,[5] on 5 January 1940. He was a socialite, race horse owner (owner of Windsor Lad) and an accomplished polo player. She was his third wife. He received a knighthood from King George V in the 1925 New Year Honours. Atherton referred to him as ‘Pip’. They had a son and a daughter together, both born in England.
The couple had numerous homes, including the Indrajit-Padmini Mahal, or Vadia Palace, where they lived between the years 1934 and 1939. After Indian independence, she retired with her husband to a mansion on Church Road, Old Windsor, in Berkshire. Her husband died there in 1951. She died in May 1995, aged 89 years, in Surrey.
References
- "The First Born (1928)". Screen Online.
- "Ella Atherton". BFI. Retrieved 2020-07-23.
- "Indian Tiger Hunt". Getty Images. 1939.
- "Maharana Shri Sir Vijayasinhji Chhatrasinhji, Maharaja of Rajpipla" National Portrait Gallery.
- "Rajpipla: Princely State". Indian Rajputs.
Further reading
- Ewan, E., Innes, S., Reynolds, S., & Pipes, R. (Eds.). (2007). The Biographical Dictionary of Scottish Women: From the Earliest Times to 2004. Edinburgh University Press.