Tcherina, Ludmila (1924–2004)

French ballet dancer and actress. One of the leading ballet dancers of her time, she was the first western performer to dance with the Bolshoi Ballet in Moscow. She is best known for her role as Juliet in Romeo and Juliet in 1942 in Paris, France.

She appeared in several films, including The Lover's Return (1946), Red Shoes (1948), The Tales of Hoffmann (1951), Sign of the Pagan (1954), and Oh.Rosalinda! (1955). She became the youngest-ever prima ballerina after joining Serge Lifar's Monte Carlo Ballet in 1940.

She was born in Paris, the daughter of a Frenchwoman and an exiled Russian prince. She started dancing at the age of three and made her professional debut at the age of 10. She trained at the Paris Opera ballet school. She was also a painter, sculptor, and writer. Her novels include L'amour au miroir (1983) and La femme à l'envers (1986).