[1] Tamara Shayne was born Tamara Veniaminovna Olkenitskaya on 25 November 1902 in Perm, Russia, to the family of a Jewish actor Veniamin Olkenitsky-Nikulin (aka Benjamin Nikulin).

[2] Shayne appeared in European films before migrating to the United States in 1927 with her future husband, the actor Akim Tamiroff;[3] the couple married in February 1933.

[4] Her first role (uncredited) in an American film was in The Captain Hates the Sea (1934).

She also appeared uncredited in Ninotchka (1939) as Anna, the cellist roommate of the titular character portrayed by Greta Garbo.

[3] Shayne remained married to Akim Tamiroff until his death in 1972, and she retired at that time.