Sana Rayya (FLASH GORDON, 1936)

Remember when, in chapter 11 of FLASH GORDON, Princess Aura and the Mistress of the Sacred Tigron search for poor Dale Arden in the Tigron caves, ferocious beasts leading the way? Well, the Mistress of Tigron was enacted by one Sana Rayya who, despite her exotic name and appearance, apparently hailed from very down-home Springfield, KY. Sana came to films from the world of dance and was indeed a dancer in another cult classic, REVOLT OF THE ZOMBIES (1936). Alas, that was the last we saw of Miss Rayya.