Mary Ann Evans, better known by her stage name Fearless Nadia was an actress and stuntwoman from Australia who made her mark in the Hindi film industry by her death defying acts. She is most remembered for her role in Hunterwali in 1935 which was one of the earliest female-lead Indian films. Nadia married Homi Wadia, a filmmaker and producer, and was married to him until her death on January 9, 1996. Incidentally, tomorrow will be her death anniversary.
She came to India at the age of five and soon learned horseback riding, fishing, shooting and other such skills. This was during her stay in the North West Frontier province. She starred in movies like Desh Deepak and Noor-e-Yaman before getting her big break in Hunterwali.
Nadia chose her stage name as it sounded 'exotic' and in her early days as a dancer in a travelling troupe, an Armenian fortune teller suggested she change her name to one beginning with 'N'.