Back in 1992, a quiet yet poignant funeral service took place in Berlin for the legendary Marlene Dietrich. Around 50 mourners were present, including her daughter, Maria Riva. That day, Maria blew a tender kiss toward her mother's coffin, but her words for her grandmother, who lay buried nearby, carried a weight of emotion. “She said, ‘Now you’ve got her back. Teach her how to love,’” Maria’s son, Peter Riva, recounted to Closer.
Marlene Dietrich: The Iconic Star Who Broke Boundaries
Marlene Dietrich wasn’t just a movie star; she was a cultural icon who defied conventions. Born in Berlin, she rose to fame during Hollywood’s Golden Age, becoming known for her dazzling performances and bold lifestyle. Marlene was unapologetically herself, taking lovers of all kinds and pushing societal limits, like wearing trousers in Paris despite the risk of arrest. But behind the glamour and freedom lay a complex personality that sometimes overshadowed her role as a mother.
The Challenges of Growing Up with a Star
Maria Riva spent much of her childhood surrounded by the hustle and bustle of Paramount Studios. Instead of attending school like other kids her age, she was tutored privately. Her life revolved around her mother’s career—guarding the door while Marlene maintained her figure, helping her prepare for performances, and learning to spot imperfections. Along the way, Maria absorbed Marlene’s critical views of fellow actors, calling Charlie Chaplin a “low-class circus performer,” Joan Crawford a “terrible, vulgar woman with pop eyes,” and rival Greta Garbo a “cruel Swede.”
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Friendship Amid Loneliness
Despite the challenges, there were moments of joy. Maria fondly recalls meeting Judy Garland, another lonely child star, at a studio-hosted birthday party for The Wizard of Oz. “We became friends,” Maria says. “Even though we rarely met, sometimes years apart, when we did, we immediately became two little fat girls sitting on a back-porch swing.”
Carrying the Torch
Maria eventually followed in her mother’s footsteps, pursuing acting. While she never reached the same level of stardom as Marlene, she became a more nurturing parent to her own four children. Her son, Peter, born in 1950, remembers his grandmother as a commanding presence. “She was a little bit more Teutonic and disciplinarian than a cuddly grandma,” Peter recalls. “We’d call her ‘Massy’ when no one could hear, but when she answered the phone, we knew to address her as ‘Ms. Dietrich’ or ‘Grandmother.’”
Marlene’s Later Years
After fracturing her leg during a cabaret show mishap in the mid-1970s, Marlene retreated to her Paris apartment. She declined prestigious honors, including a lifetime achievement award from the Academy Awards. “She said, ‘That’s enough. I can be in my own apartment, in my own bed, and be happy,’” Peter explains. Even in seclusion, Marlene remained intellectually sharp, engaging with luminaries like Adlai Stevenson and Ernest Hemingway.
