Marie Bell

Marie Bell was born on 23 December 1900 in Bègles near Bordeaux (France). With her Irish father, she spent her childhood between Bordeaux and England.

Bell was a classical actress. She also appeared in avant-garde theatre, Jean Genet in particular.

Her interpretation of the role of Phèdre is highly noted : "Voir Marie Bell dans Phèdre est une chance unique pour quiconque veut savoir ce qu'est le génie français." André Malraux[2]

During the German Occupation of France (1940–1944), she participated in the French resistance as one of nine directors of the Front national du théâtre.[3] She was awarded the decoration of the Légion d'honneur by President Charles de Gaulle.[4]

Bell married Jean Chevrier, who was also an actor.[5]

Bell died on 14 August 1985 in Neuilly-sur-Seine, Hauts-de-Seine, France. She was buried alongside her husband Jean Chevrier at the Monaco Cemetery[5] not far from Josephine Baker.

• Paris (dir. René Hervil, 1924), as Marthe de Lignières
• Madame Récamier (dir. Tony Lekain and Gaston Ravel, 1928), as Juliette Récamier
• The Farewell Waltz (dir. Henry Roussel, 1928), as Maria Wodzińska
• Figaro (dir. Tony Lekain and Gaston Ravel, 1929), as Suzanne
• La nuit est à nous (The Night Is Ours) (dir. Carl Froelich and Henry Roussel, 1930), as Bettine de Barsac
• Le Joker (dir. Erich Waschneck, 1930), as Harriet Williams
• L'Homme qui assassina (dir. Curtis Bernhardt and Jean Tarride, 1931), as Lady Falkland
• La Folle Aventure (dir. Carl Froelich and André-Paul Antoine, 1931), as Nelly Irwin
• Luck (dir. René Guissart, 1931), as Tania Balieff
• The Man with the Hispano (dir. Jean Epstein, 1933), as Stéphane Oswill
• The Princess's Whim (dir. Karl Hartl and Henri-Georges Clouzot, 1934), as Isabelle
• Fedora (dir. Louis J. Gasnier, 1934), as Fedora
• Le Grand Jeu (dir. Jacques Feyder, 1934), as Florence / Irma
• Poliche (dir. Abel Gance, 1934), as Rosine
• Fiordalisi d'oro (dir. Giovacchino Forzano, 1935), as Anne-Marie de Beaulieu
  • Sous la terreur (dir. Giovacchino Forzano and Marcel Cravenne, 1936), as Anne-Marie de Beaulieu
• Story of a Poor Young Man (dir. Abel Gance, 1936), as Marguerite
• La Garçonne (dir. Jean de Limur, 1936), as Monique Lerbier – la garçonne
• Temptation (dir. Pierre Caron, 1936), as Irène de Bergue
• When Midnight Strikes (dir. Léo Joannon, 1936), as Mattia
• Les Demi-vierges (dir. Pierre Caron, 1936), as Maud de Rouvre
• Blanchette (dir. Pierre Caron, 1937), as Blanchette Rousset
• Pantins d'amour (dir. Walter Kapps, 1937), as Renée Morhange
• Un carnet de bal (Life Dances On) (dir. Julien Duvivier, 1937), as Christine Surgère
• Légions d'honneur (dir. Maurice Gleize, 1938), de Simone
• La Glu (dir. Jean Choux, 1938), as Fernande "La Glu"
• Noix de coco (Cocoanut) (dir. Jean Boyer, 1939), as Caroline
• The Phantom Carriage (dir. Julien Duvivier, 1939), as Sœur Maria
• Ceux du ciel (dir. Yvan Noé, 1941), as Hélène
• Vie privée (dir. Walter Kapps, 1942), as Florence
• Le colonel Chabert (dir. René Le Hénaff, 1943), as Comtesse Rosine Ferraud
• Il gattopardo (The Leopard) (dir. Luchino Visconti, 1963), uncredited
• La Bonne Soupe (dir. Robert Thomas, 1964), as Marie-Paule
• Vaghe stelle dell'Orsa (Sandra) (dir. Luchino Visconti, 1965), as Sandra's mother
• Hotel Paradiso (dir. Peter Glenville, 1966), as La Grande Antoinette
• Phèdre (dir. Pierre Jourdan, 1968), as Phèdre
• Les Volets clos (dir. Jean-Claude Brialy, 1973), as Aurore

• Marie Bell at IMDb
• Marie Bell at Find a Grave
• Marie Bell at Ciné-Ressources (French)
• Marie Bell at AlloCiné (in French)
• brief biography of Marie Bell