Jeanne Moreau

Jeanne Moreau (French pronunciation: [ʒan mɔʁo]; 23 January 1928 31 July 2017) was a French actress, singer, screenwriter and director. She made her theatrical debut in 1947, and established herself as one of the leading actresses of the Comédie-Française. Moreau began playing small roles in films in 1949, later achieving prominence with starring roles in Louis Malle's Elevator to the Gallows (1958), Michelangelo Antonioni's La Notte (1961), and François Truffaut's Jules et Jim (1962). Most prolific during the 1960s, Moreau continued to appear in films into her 80s.

Jeanne Moreau
Moreau at the Venice Film Festival, 1958
Born(1928-01-23)23 January 1928
Paris, France
Died31 July 2017(2017-07-31) (aged 89)
Paris, France
Resting placeMontmartre Cemetery, Paris, France
Alma materConservatoire de Paris
OccupationActress, screenwriter, film director
Years active1947–2015
Spouse(s)
(m. 1949; div. 1964)

(m. 1977; div. 1979)
Children1

She won the Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Actress for Seven Days... Seven Nights (1960), the BAFTA Award for Best Foreign Actress for Viva Maria! (1965), and the César Award for Best Actress for The Old Lady Who Walked in the Sea (1992). She was also the recipient of several lifetime awards, including a BAFTA Fellowship in 1996, Cannes Golden Palm in 2003 and César Award in 2008.

Early life and education

Moreau was born in Paris, the daughter of Katherine (née Buckley), a dancer who performed at the Folies Bergère (d. 1990), and Anatole-Désiré Moreau, a restaurateur (d. 1975).[1][2] Moreau's father was French; her mother was English, a native of Oldham, Lancashire, England[3] and of part Irish descent.[2][4][5] Moreau's father was Catholic and her mother, originally a Protestant, converted to Catholicism upon marriage.[2] When Jeanne was a young girl, "the family moved south to Vichy, spending vacations at the paternal ancestral village of Mazirat, a town of 30 houses in a valley in the Allier. "It was wonderful there", Moreau said. "Every tombstone in the cemetery was for a Moreau". During World War II, the family was split, and Moreau lived with her mother in Paris. Moreau ultimately lost interest in school and, at age 16, after attending a performance of Jean Anouilh's Antigone, found her calling as an actor. She later studied at the Conservatoire de Paris. Her parents separated permanently while Moreau was at the conservatory and her mother, "after 24 difficult years in France, returned to England with Jeanne's[6] sister, Michelle."[6]

Career

In 1947, Moreau made her theatrical debut at the Avignon Festival. She debuted at the Comédie-Française in Ivan Turgenev's A Month in the Country[6] and, by her 20s, was already one of the leading actresses in the theatre's troupe.[2] After 1949, she began appearing in films with small parts but continued primarily active in the theatre for several years — a year at the Théâtre National Populaire opposite among others Gérard Philipe and Robert Hirsch, then a breakout two years in dual roles in The Dazzling Hour by Anna Bonacci, then Jean Cocteau's La Machine Infernale and others before another two-year run, this time in Shaw's Pygmalion.[6] From the late 1950s, after appearing in several successful films, she began to work with the emerging generation of French film-makers. Elevator to the Gallows (1958) with first-time director Louis Malle was followed by Malle's The Lovers (Les Amants, 1959).[7]

Moreau went on to work with many of the best known New Wave and avant-garde directors.[2] François Truffaut's New Wave film Jules et Jim (1962), her biggest success internationally, is centered on her magnetic starring role.[2] She also worked with a number of other notable directors such as Michelangelo Antonioni (La notte and Beyond the Clouds), Orson Welles (The Trial, Chimes at Midnight and The Immortal Story), Luis Buñuel (Diary of a Chambermaid), Elia Kazan (The Last Tycoon), Rainer Werner Fassbinder (Querelle), Wim Wenders (Until the End of the World), Carl Foreman (Champion and The Victors), and Manoel de Oliveira (Gebo et l'Ombre).

In 1983, she was head of the jury at the 33rd Berlin International Film Festival.[8] In 2005, she was awarded with the Stanislavsky Award at the 27th Moscow International Film Festival.[9]

Moreau was also a vocalist. She released several albums and once performed with Frank Sinatra at Carnegie Hall in 1984.[2] In addition to acting, Moreau worked behind the camera as a writer, director and producer.[2] Her accomplishments were the subject of the film Calling the Shots (1988) by Janis Cole and Holly Dale.

Personal life

Moreau in 2009

Throughout her life, Moreau maintained friendships with prominent writers such as Jean Cocteau, Jean Genet, Henry Miller and Marguerite Duras, (an interview with Moreau is included in Duras's book Outside: Selected Writings). She formerly was married to Jean-Louis Richard (1949–1964, separated in 1951) and then to American film director William Friedkin (1977–1979). She and Richard had a son, Jérôme.[10] Director Tony Richardson left his wife Vanessa Redgrave for her in 1967, but they never married. She also had affairs with directors Louis Malle and François Truffaut, fashion designer Pierre Cardin[11] and the Greek actor/playboy Theodoros Roubanis.[12]

In 1971, she was a signer of the Manifesto of the 343 which publicly announced that she had obtained an illegal abortion.[13]

Moreau was a close friend of Sharon Stone, who presented a 1998 American Academy of Motion Pictures life tribute to Moreau at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater, academy headquarters in Beverly Hills. Orson Welles called her "the greatest actress in the world",[14][3][15] and she remained one of France's most accomplished actresses.

Filmography

Actress

Year Title Role Director Notes
1949 Last Love Michèle Jean Stelli
1950 Meurtres ? Martine Annequin Richard Pottier
Pigalle-Saint-Germain-des-Prés La môme Pâquerette André Berthomieu
1952 The Man in My Life Suzanne Dubreuil Guy Lefranc
Il est minuit, docteur Schweitzer Marie Winter André Haguet
1953 Dortoir des grandes Julie Henri Decoin
Julietta Rosie Facibey Marc Allégret
1954 Touchez pas au grisbi Josy Jacques Becker
Les Intrigantes Mona Rémi Henri Decoin
Secrets d'alcôve Jeanne Plisson Various directors (segment "Billet de logement, Le")
Queen Margot Margaret of Valois Jean Dréville
1955 Les Hommes en blanc Marianne Déjazet Ralph Habib
M'sieur la Caille Fernande André Pergament
Opération gas-oil Alice Gilles Grangier
1956 Le Salaire du péché Angèle Ribot Denys de la Patellière
1957 Jusqu'au dernier Gina Pierre Billon
Les Louves Agnès Vanaux Luis Saslavsky
L'étrange Monsieur Steve Florence Raymond Bailly
Three Days to Live Jeanne Fortin Gilles Grangier
1958 The Lovers (Les amants) Jeanne Tournier Louis Malle
Ascenseur pour l'échafaud Florence Carala
Le Dos au mur Gloria Decrey Édouard Molinaro
1959 The 400 Blows Woman with Dog François Truffaut cameo appearance
Les liaisons dangereuses Juliette de Merteuil Roger Vadim
1960 Five Branded Women Ljuba Martin Ritt
Moderato Cantabile Anne Desbarèdes Peter Brook
Dialogue with the Carmelites Mère Marie de l'Incarnation Philippe Agostini
1961 La Notte Lidia Pontano Michelangelo Antonioni
A Woman Is a Woman Woman in Bar Jean-Luc Godard Uncredited, discussing Jules et Jim
1962 Jules et Jim Catherine François Truffaut
Eva Eva Olivier Joseph Losey
The Trial Miss Burstner Orson Welles
1963 Bay of Angels Jacqueline "Jackie" Demaistre Jacques Demy
The Fire Within (Le feu follet) Eva Louis Malle
Banana Peel (Peau de banane) Cathy Marcel Ophüls
The Victors the French lady Carl Foreman
1964 Diary of a Chambermaid Célestine Luis Buñuel
The Train Christine John Frankenheimer
The Yellow Rolls-Royce Eloise, Marchioness of Frinton Anthony Asquith
Mata Hari, Agent H21 Mata Hari Jean-Louis Richard
1965 Viva Maria! Maria I Louis Malle
Chimes at Midnight Doll Tearsheet Orson Welles
1966 Mademoiselle "Mademoiselle" Tony Richardson
1967 The Oldest Profession (episode "Mademoiselle Mimi") Mimi Guillotine Philippe de Broca (segment "Mademoiselle Mimi")
The Sailor from Gibraltar Anna Tony Richardson
1968 The Bride Wore Black Julie Kohler François Truffaut
The Immortal Story Virginie Ducrot Orson Welles TV movie
Great Catherine Catherine Gordon Flemyng
1969 Le Corps de Diane Diane Vallier Jean-Louis Richard
1970 Monte Walsh Martine Bernard William A. Fraker
The Little Theatre of Jean Renoir the singer Jean Renoir TV movie, (segment "Quand l'amour meurt")
The Deep Ruth Warriner Orson Welles Filming was unfinished
Alex in Wonderland Herself Paul Mazursky
1971 Comptes à rebours Madeleine St Rose Roger Pigaut
1972 Chère Louise Louise Philippe de Broca
L'humeur vagabonde Myriam Bingeot Édouard Luntz
Nathalie Granger "the other woman" Marguerite Duras
Repeated Absences nostalgie Guy Gilles Voice
1973 Joanna Francesa Joana Cacá Diegues
1974 Je t'aime Elisa Boussac Pierre Duceppe
Les Valseuses Jeanne Pirolle Bertrand Blier
Creezy Renee Vibert Pierre Granier-Deferre
1975 The Garden That Tilts Maria Guy Gilles
Hu-man Sylvana Jérôme Laperrousaz
Hu-Man Sylvana Jérôme Laperrousaz
1976 Lumiere Sarah Dedieu Jeanne Moreau
Monsieur Klein Florence Joseph Losey
The Last Tycoon Didi Elia Kazan
1979 The Adolescent La narratrice Jeanne Moreau Voice, Uncredited
1981 Plein sud Hélène, la mère de Caroline Luc Béraud
Your Ticket Is No Longer Valid Lili Marlene George Kaczender
1982 A Thousand Billion Dollars Mme Benoît-Lambert Henri Verneuil
Querelle Lysiane Rainer Werner Fassbinder
La Truite Lou Rambert Joseph Losey
1986 Le paltoquet The Brothel-Keeper Michel Deville
Sauve-toi, Lola Marie-Aude Schneider Michel Drach
1986–1987 Le Tiroir secret Vivi (different directors) 2 episodes
1987 The Miracle Sabine Jean-Pierre Mocky
Remake Herself Ansano Giannarelli
1989 Jour après jour Janine Weisman Alain Attal
1990 La Femme Nikita Amande Luc Besson
Alberto Express the Baroness Arthur Joffé
La Femme fardée Le Doria José Pinheiro
1991 Anna Karamazoff the Lady Rustam Khamdamov
To meteoro vima tou pelargou the Lady Theo Angelopoulos
The Old Lady Who Walked in the Sea Lady M Laurent Heynemann
Until the End of the World Edith Farber Wim Wenders
1992 The Lover Narrator Jean-Jacques Annaud Voice
Map of the Human Heart Sister Banville Vincent Ward
La nuit de l'océan Hélène Sauveterre Antoine Perset
The Absence the writer's wife Peter Handke
À demain Tete Didier Martiny
1993 Screen Two Lili Waris Hussein Episode: "The Clothes in the Wardrobe"
Je m'appelle Victor Rose Guy Jacques
Screen One Angelique Charles Sturridge Episode: "A Foreign Field"
1995 One Hundred and One Nights La première ex-épouse de M. Cinéma Agnès Varda
Catherine the Great Empress Elizabeth Petrovna Marvin J. Chomsky
Beyond the Clouds a Lady Michelangelo Antonioni and Wim Wenders
1996 I Love You, I Love You Not Nana Billy Hopkins
The Proprietor Adrienne Mark Ismail Merchant
1997 Amour et confusions Libra Patrick Braoudé
Witch Way Love Eglantine René Manzor
1998 Ever After Grande Dame Andy Tennant
1999 Balzac Charlotte-Laure de Balzac Josée Dayan TV movie
2000 The Prince's Manuscript Alessandra Wolf (Licy) Roberto Andò
Les Misérables Mere Innocente Josée Dayan 4 episodes
2001 Lisa Lisa (old) Pierre Grimblat
Cet amour-là Marguerite Duras Josée Dayan
2003 Love Actually Lady at Marseilles Airport Richard Curtis Uncredited
Les Parents terribles Tante Leo Josée Dayan
2005 Akoibon Madame Paule Édouard Baer
Time to Leave Laura François Ozon
Go West Novinar Ahmed Imamović
Les Rois maudits Mahaut, Countess of Artois Josée Dayan 5 episodes
2006 Roméo et Juliette Laurence Yves Desgagnés
2007 Chacun son cinéma The old woman / Herself Various directors (segment "Trois Minutes")
Désengagement Françoise Amos Gitai
2008 One Day You'll Understand Rivka Amos Gitai
Everywhere at Once Narrator Holly Fisher
2009 Carmel Amos Gitai Voice
Face Jeanne Ming-liang Tsai
La guerre des fils de la lumière contre les fils des ténèbres Amos Gitai
Kérity, la maison des contes Aunt Eleanor Dominique Monfery Voice
2012 Une estonienne à Paris Frida Ilmar Raag
Gebo et l'Ombre Candidinha Manoel de Oliveira
2015 Le talent de mes amis La grand-mère de Thibault Alex Lutz (final film role)

Director

Awards and nominations

Films

YearGroupAwardFilmResult
2008César AwardsHonorary CésarLifetime achievementWon
2005Moscow International Film FestivalStanislavsky AwardLifetime achievementWon
2003Cannes Film FestivalHonorary Golden PalmLifetime achievementWon
2003Taormina International Film FestivalTaormina Arte AwardLifetime achievementWon
2001Pusan International Film FestivalHand Printing (tribute)Lifetime achievementWon
2000Berlin International Film FestivalHonorary Golden BearLifetime achievementWon
1999Hamptons International Film FestivalDistinguished Achievement AwardLifetime achievementWon
1999Créteil International Women's Film FestivalHomageLifetime achievementWon
1998Academy of Motion Picture Arts and SciencesTributeLifetime achievementWon
1997European Film AwardsLife Achievement AwardLifetime achievementWon
1997San Sebastián International Film FestivalDonostia Lifetime Achievement AwardLifetime achievementWon
1996BAFTA AwardsAcademy FellowshipLifetime achievementWon
1995César AwardsHonorary CésarLifetime achievementWon
1994Women in Film Crystal AwardInternational AwardLifetime achievementWon
1992Venice Film FestivalCareer Golden LionLifetime achievementWon
1992César AwardsBest ActressThe Old Lady Who Walked in the SeaWon
1988César AwardsBest ActressLe MiraculéNominated
1987César AwardsBest Supporting ActressLe PaltoquetNominated
1984Razzie AwardsGolden Raspberry Award for Worst Original SongQuerelle – song: "Young and Joyful Bandit"Nominated
1979Berlin International Film FestivalGolden BearL'adolescenteNominated
1979Chicago International Film FestivalGold HugoL'adolescente Nominated
1976Chicago International Film FestivalGold HugoLumière Nominated
1976Taormina International Film FestivalGolden CharybdisLumière Nominated
1967BAFTA AwardsBest Foreign ActressViva Maria!Won
1964Karlovy Vary International Film FestivalBest ActressDiary of a ChambermaidWon
1963BAFTA AwardsBest Foreign ActressJules et Jim Nominated
1962Jussi AwardsDiploma of Merit – Foreign ActressLa notteWon
1961Fotogramas de PlataBest Foreign PerformerLe dialogue des Carmélites Won
1960Cannes Film FestivalBest ActressModerato cantabileWon
1958Venice Film FestivalBest ActressLes amantsWon

Theater

YearGroupAwardPlayResult
1988Molière AwardsBest ActressLe Récit de la servante ZerlineWon

References

  1. "Jeanne Moreau Biography (1928–)". Filmreference.com.
  2. Stated in interview at Inside the Actors Studio
  3. "Jeanne Moreau: French screen icon and star of Jules et Jim, dies at 89". BBC. 31 July 2017. Retrieved 31 July 2017.
  4. Famous French people of immigrant origin, Eupedia: France Guide
  5. "Jeanne Moreau Biography". Yahoo! Movies. Archived from the original on 22 May 2011.
  6. Farrell, Barry, "Actresses: Making the Most of Love", Time cover story pp. 4–5, 5 March 1965. Retrieved 22 December 2010.
  7. Chapman, Peter (31 July 2017). "Jeanne Moreau, actress, 1928–2017". Financial Times. Retrieved 31 July 2017.
  8. "Berlinale: 1983 Juries". berlinale.de. Retrieved 14 November 2010.
  9. "27th Moscow International Film Festival (2005)". MIFF. Archived from the original on 3 April 2013. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
  10. Desta, Yohana (31 July 2017). "Jeanne Moreau, an Icon of French Cinema, Dies at 89". Vanity Fair. Retrieved 27 August 2020.
  11. "Jeanne Moreau : bio de Jeanne Moreau". Gala.fr (in French). Archived from the original on 5 February 2009. Retrieved 17 March 2013.
  12. Roubanis was previously the companion of Henry Plumer McIlhenny. The relationship with McIlhenny was cited in Welsh and Tibbett's The Cinema of Tony Richardson (SUNY Press, 1999). Roubanis later married Lady Sarah Churchill. Lady Sarah Spencer-Churchill obituary, The Telegraph, 19 October 2000.
  13. "manifeste des 343". web.archive.org. 23 April 2001. Retrieved 27 May 2019.
  14. "People | Jeanne Moreau". Salon. Archived from the original on 24 May 2007.
  15. Gates, Anita (31 July 2017). "Jeanne Moreau, Femme Fatale of French New Wave, Is Dead at 89". The New York Times. Retrieved 31 July 2017.
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