She died in her bath in Paris in September 1951 after a series of failed marriages. Born Maria Africa Gracia Vidal, she changed her name to Maria Montez because her father liked the dancer Lola Montez. After breaking into Hollywood as a model, she went on to star in many films, including Lucky Devils, Boss of Bullion City, That Night in Rio, Raiders of the Desert, Moonlight in Hawaii, South of Tahiti, Arabian Nights, Ali Baba and the 40 Thieves, Cobra Woman, then European films such as Portrait d'un Assassin and Il ladro de Venezia. When she died in her bath, it was assumed a tragic accident because the bath water was extremely hot. She was one of the finest actresses of her era.