Annette Kellerman - underwater ballet

Kellerman was 52 years old when her husband and manager Jimmie Sullivan filmed this rare silent footage. She is performing the underwater adagio - a slow ballet dance.

She trained herself to hold her breath for 3 minutes and 20 seconds at a time. Jimmie however, was unable to swim so she was concerned for his welfare during the filming.

It was filmed in the crystal clear waters of Silver Springs, Florida, US.

This is a compilation of the longer piece of actuality footage, which was deposited at the National Film Archive (now the NFSA) in 1977. The film was one of the first items in the national collection.

Notes by Beth Taylor