Dita Parlo was born Grethe Gerda Kornstädt on September 4, 1908 in Stettin, Pomerania, Germany [now Szczecin, Poland]. She began her film career in 1928 with the German made films Geheimnisse des Orients, Heimkehr, and Die Dame mit der Maske. In the thirties Dita made both German and the French films. Perhaps her most famous role was as the female lead in the wonderful (and available) L'Atalante. She was also the female lead in Jean Renoir's must see masterpiece Grand Illusion (also available). In the same decade she made a short excursion to the Hollywood where she appeared in the Honor of the Family and Mr. Broadway.

Dita appeared only in a few movies after WWII, including "Justice est faite" and "La dame de pique", her last film, made in 1965.

Madonna based her book 'Sex' on a fictional character named Dita, inspired by Dita Parlo and her character in L'Atalante. Dita died in France in 1971.