[9][10] The Welter family moved a great deal during Christian's youth, living everywhere from South America and Europe to the Middle East and Africa.

[5] As a result of this nomadic lifestyle, Christian became an accomplished polyglot with the ability to speak fluent French, German, Dutch, Spanish, English, Italian and even a bit of haphazard Arabic and Russian.

[13] After she graduated from secondary school she had a fortuitous meeting with her screen idol Errol Flynn, who became her lover; he persuaded her to give up her hopes of joining the medical profession, move to Hollywood, and pursue an acting career.

[13] Not long after arriving in Hollywood she was spotted by Louis B. Mayer's secretary at a fashion show in Beverly Hills.

She made her film debut in the 1944 musical comedy Up in Arms, co-starring Danny Kaye and Dinah Shore.

[17] Christian's fame, however, was largely derived from being married to the popular screen idol Tyrone Power[5] between 1949 and 1956, and then from being divorced from him.

The couple married in Rome, Italy, with Monsignor William A. Hemmick performing the ceremony at Santa Francesca Romana.

De Portago was dating model Dorian Leigh, mother of his recently born illegitimate son Kim.

The photo shows Christian leaning in to kiss Fon before he drove off and crashed his Ferrari, killing himself, his navigator Ed Nelson, and nine spectators in the process.