Edina Ronay was born in Budapest, Hungary, to well-to-do restaurateurs who lost most of their possessions during the Second World War. This led to the family relocating to England in 1946. Edina's father, Egon Miklos Ronay, was a Cambridge-educated man who managed to borrow £4,000 to open a new restaurant, The Marquee, situated opposite Harrod's in Knightsbridge. He later gained prominence as a leading food critic, publishing the successful 'Egon Ronay Guide to British Eateries'.
Edina developed an interest in painting and fashion at a young age, which was encouraged by her father. He enrolled her at the Saint Martin's School of Art in London, where she stayed for just one year before being noticed by a film producer and given a small part in The Pure Hell of St. Trinian's (1960). After dropping out of art school, Edina attended the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, graduating in 1963. She went on to act in many popular television series and motion pictures, often playing sultry supporting roles. Edina's roles included murder victims in The Black Torment (1964) and A Study in Terror (1965),as well as decorative appearances in Carry on Cowboy (1965) and The Big Job (1965). She also made guest appearances in classic crime/action series such as The Avengers (1961),The Champions (1968),Sherlock Holmes (1964),Special Branch (1969),and Department S (1969).
In 1975, Edina decided to leave the acting profession and pursue a career in fashion. She specialized in knitwear and set up her own company in 1984, with her collections being sought after by boutiques and luxury department stores worldwide. Her designs were featured in top fashion magazines such as Vogue, Harpers Bazaar, Elle, and were patronized by celebrities and glitterati, including Jane Fonda, Scarlett Johansson, Nicole Kidman, and Faye Dunaway. Edina has been made a Fellow of London's Royal Society of Arts & Design and has been vastly more successful in the field of fashion than as an actress. She was married to Dutch photographer Dick Polak and has two children, including actress Shebah Ronay.
