Jeanne Moreau

Jeanne Moreau (French pronunciation: [ʒan mɔʁo]; 23 January 1928 – 31 July 2017) was a French actress, singer, screenwriter, director, and socialite. 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. Orson Welles called her "the greatest actress in the world".[1][2][3]

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
Alma materConservatoire de Paris
Occupation
  • Actress
  • screenwriter
  • film director
Years active1947–2015
Spouses
    Jean-Louis Richard
    (m. 1949; div. 1964)
      William Friedkin
      (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 achievement awards, including a BAFTA Fellowship in 1996, a Cannes Golden Palm in 2003, and another 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).[4][5] Moreau's father was French; her mother was English, a native of Oldham, Lancashire, England[2] and of part Irish descent.[5][6][7] Moreau's father was Catholic and her mother, originally a Protestant, converted to Catholicism upon marriage.[5] 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[8] sister, Michelle."[8]

      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[8] and, by her 20s, was already one of the leading actresses in the theatre's troupe.[5] 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.[8] 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).[9]

      Moreau went on to work with many of the best known New Wave and avant-garde directors.[5] François Truffaut's New Wave film Jules et Jim (1962), her biggest success internationally, is centered on her magnetic starring role.[5] 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.[10] In 2005, she was awarded with the Stanislavsky Award at the 27th Moscow International Film Festival.[11]

      Moreau was also a vocalist. She released several albums and once performed with Frank Sinatra at Carnegie Hall in 1984.[5] In addition to acting, Moreau worked behind the camera as a writer, director and producer.[5] Her accomplishments were the subject of the film Calling the Shots (1988) by Janis Cole and Holly Dale. She appeared in Rosa von Praunheim's film Fassbinder's Women (2000).

      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.[12] Director Tony Richardson left his wife Vanessa Redgrave for her in 1967, but they never married.[13] She also had relationships with directors Louis Malle and François Truffaut, fashion designer Pierre Cardin,[14] and the Greek actor/playboy Theodoros Roubanis.[15]

      In 1971, Jeanne Moreau was a signatory of the Manifesto of the 343 which publicly announced that she had obtained an illegal abortion.[16]

      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",[1][2][3] and she remained one of France's most accomplished actresses.

      In 2009, Moreau signed a petition in support of director Roman Polanski, who had been detained while traveling to a film festival in relation to his 1977 sexual abuse charges, which the petition argued would undermine the tradition of film festivals as a place for works to be shown "freely and safely", and that arresting filmmakers traveling to neutral countries could open the door "for actions of which no-one can know the effects."[17][18]

      Moreau died on 31 July 2017 at her home in Paris at the age of 89.[3] Her body was discovered by her cleaning maid and shortly before her death, she said she felt "abandoned".[19][20]

      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
      Gas-Oil Alice Gilles Grangier
      1956 The Wages of Sin 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
      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

      • Lumière (1976)
      • L'Adolescente (1979)
      • Lillian Gish (1983, TV documentary)

      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. "People | Jeanne Moreau". Salon. Archived from the original on 24 May 2007.
      2. "Jeanne Moreau: French screen icon and star of Jules et Jim, dies at 89". BBC. 31 July 2017. Retrieved 31 July 2017.
      3. 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.
      4. "Jeanne Moreau Biography (1928–)". Filmreference.com.
      5. Stated in interview at Inside the Actors Studio
      6. Famous French people of immigrant origin, Eupedia: France Guide
      7. "Jeanne Moreau Biography". Yahoo! Movies. Archived from the original on 22 May 2011.
      8. Farrell, Barry, "Actresses: Making the Most of Love", Time cover story pp. 4–5, 5 March 1965. Retrieved 22 December 2010.
      9. Chapman, Peter (31 July 2017). "Jeanne Moreau, actress, 1928–2017". Financial Times. Retrieved 31 July 2017.
      10. "Berlinale: 1983 Juries". berlinale.de. Retrieved 14 November 2010.
      11. "27th Moscow International Film Festival (2005)". MIFF. Archived from the original on 3 April 2013. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
      12. Desta, Yohana (31 July 2017). "Jeanne Moreau, an Icon of French Cinema, Dies at 89". Vanity Fair. Retrieved 27 August 2020.
      13. needs substantiation
      14. "Jeanne Moreau : bio de Jeanne Moreau". Gala.fr (in French). Archived from the original on 5 February 2009. Retrieved 17 March 2013.
      15. 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.
      16. "manifeste des 343". 23 April 2001. Archived from the original on 23 April 2001. Retrieved 27 May 2019.
      17. "Le cinéma soutient Roman Polanski / Petition for Roman Polanski - SACD". archive.ph. 4 June 2012. Archived from the original on 4 June 2012. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
      18. Shoard, Catherine; Agencies (29 September 2009). "Release Polanski, demands petition by film industry luminaries". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 28 June 2019. Retrieved 12 June 2019.
      19. "Jeanne Moreau est morte à l'âge de 89 ans" (in French). lemonde.fr. Retrieved 31 July 2017..
      20. "Avant sa mort, Jeanne Moreau "se sentait abandonnée"" (in French). Closermag.fr. 31 July 2017.
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