Petrova was a pseudonym used by Alla Nazimova, a Russian-American actress, theatre director and producer. Nazimova was born in Russia in 1879 and began her acting career there. In 1905, she moved to the United States and became a star on Broadway. She also appeared in a number of films, including The Red Rose (1920) and Salome (1923).
The Illustrious Life of Alla Nazimova: An Engaging English Quiz on the Russian-American Star