Diana Karenne (3 May 1888 – 24 May 1940) was a Polish‑born actress, film director, and screenwriter who worked primarily in the European silent‑film era. Born in Warsaw, then part of the Russian Empire, she adopted the stage name “Diana Karenne” early in her career.
Karenne began appearing in films in the 1910s, quickly becoming a prominent figure in the emerging cinematic markets of Italy and Germany. She performed in a wide range of genres, including melodramas, historical epics, and literary adaptations, and was noted for her expressive acting style that suited silent‑film storytelling. In addition to acting, Karenne directed several short and feature‑length productions during the early 1920s, making her one of the relatively few women to assume a directorial role in that period.
Her filmography includes titles such as Il ritorno (1915), La principessa di Backat (1917), The Woman Who Is Possible (1921), and Il segreto di Rosmarro (1923), which she also directed. Karenne’s work was distributed across Italy, Germany, and her native Poland, and she collaborated with notable contemporary directors and actors of the silent era.
Following the transition to sound cinema, Karenne’s screen appearances declined, although she continued to be involved in theatrical productions and occasional film projects. She died in Rome on 24 May 1940 at the age of 52.
Karenne’s contributions are recognized for showcasing the transnational nature of early European cinema and for exemplifying the roles women could occupy both in front of and behind the camera during the silent‑film period.