Amanda Lear facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Amanda Lear
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Lear in 2010
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Amanda Tap(p) |
| Born | 18 June or 18 November 1939–1950 Saigon, French Indochina (present-day Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam) |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) |
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| Instruments | Vocals |
| Years active | 1965–present |
| Labels |
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| Associated acts | Salvador Dalí |
Amanda Lear (born between 1939 and 1950) is a famous French artist. She is known as a singer, songwriter, painter, TV host, actress, and former model.
She started her career as a fashion model in the mid-1960s. She worked for designers like Paco Rabanne. Amanda Lear became close friends with the Spanish painter Salvador Dalí. She was his muse for nearly 20 years.
Lear became well-known as the cover model for Roxy Music's album For Your Pleasure in 1973. From the mid-1970s to the early 1980s, she became a very successful disco singer. She sold millions of albums, especially in Europe. Her first four albums were very popular. Her album Sweet Revenge (1978) was a bestseller. Some of her biggest songs include "Blood and Honey" and "Follow Me".
In the mid-1980s, Amanda Lear became a top TV personality in Italy. She hosted many popular TV shows. Even though TV took up a lot of her time, she kept recording music. She tried different music styles and re-recorded her old hits. Lear also became a successful painter. She has shown her artwork in galleries across Europe since the 1980s. She has also written several books, including My Life with Dalí.
Since the 1990s, she has balanced her time between music, TV, movies, and painting. Her TV career has remained very strong. She has hosted many prime-time shows, mostly in Italy and France. She has also acted in movies and done voice-over work. In the late 2000s, Lear started acting in plays in France. She has reportedly sold over 27 million records worldwide.
Contents
Early Life and Background
Amanda Lear's early life has some mysteries. She has given different details about her birth year and where she was born. Most sources say she was born on June 18 or November 18, 1939. However, she has also mentioned 1941, 1946, and 1950 as her birth year. In a 2010 interview, she showed an ID card that said she was born on November 18, 1950, in Saigon.
Her birthplace is often said to be Saigon or British Hong Kong. Lear herself has mentioned Singapore, Switzerland, and even Transylvania. In her book My Life with Dalí, she wrote that she was an only child. Her parents later divorced. Many records, including her 1965 wedding certificate, show her father was a French army officer. Her last name at that time was Tap.
Lear grew up in places like Southern France, Switzerland, London, and Paris. She learned English, German, Spanish, and Italian when she was a teenager. These language skills helped her a lot in her career.
Career Highlights
Modelling and the Swinging London Era (1965–1974)
Amanda Lear met the famous surrealist painter Salvador Dalí in Paris. He was much older than her but was impressed by her unique look. They became very close friends for 16 years. Lear described their bond as a "spiritual marriage." She spent summers with Dalí at his home in Spain. She also posed for some of his drawings and paintings.
In 1965, Lear moved to London. She worked as a cabaret artist for a short time. On December 11, 1965, she married Morgan Paul Lear, an architecture student, and took his last name. She then started a successful career as a fashion model. She walked the runway for designers like Karl Lagerfeld and Paco Rabanne.
Lear was photographed by famous photographers like Helmut Newton for magazines such as Vogue and Stern. She modeled for top fashion houses like Yves Saint Laurent and Coco Chanel. She lived a lively life in London during the "Swinging London" period of the 1960s. She knew famous people like the Beatles and the Rolling Stones.
In 1971, Lear modeled for a special Christmas issue of French Vogue. This issue was entirely put together by Salvador Dalí. She also appeared in the 1973 film A Bigger Splash. Lear was briefly engaged to Bryan Ferry from Roxy Music. She became famous for posing on the cover of Roxy Music's album For Your Pleasure in 1973. She was shown in a leather dress with a black panther. This image became very iconic.
After this, Lear appeared on stage at Roxy Music concerts. She also met David Bowie and had a relationship with him. She was the host for Bowie's TV special The 1980 Floor Show in 1973. In 1974, she helped decorate the Dalí Theatre and Museum in Spain with collages. She also wrote a monthly column for the British magazine Tatler.
Disco Music Success (1974–1983)
In 1974, Amanda Lear decided to start a music career. Her boyfriend, David Bowie, encouraged her and paid for her singing lessons. Her first single, "Trouble", was a cover of an Elvis Presley song. It was not very successful at first. However, a French version, "La Bagarre", became a small disco hit in West Germany.
This song caught the attention of producer Anthony Monn and Ariola Records. They offered her a big recording contract. Her first album, I Am a Photograph, came out in 1977. It was recorded in Munich. The album included her first European hit, "Blood and Honey". It also had "Tomorrow", which was a number one hit in Italy. The album mixed disco, pop, and a unique style. Lear's deep, half-spoken vocals and French-English accent made her stand out.
In 1978, Lear released Sweet Revenge. This album became a huge success. It started with a story about a girl who sells her soul for fame. The first song from the album, "Follow Me", was an instant hit. It reached the top 3 in West Germany and the top 10 in many European countries. This song became her signature tune. Sweet Revenge sold over four million copies. It also had other hit songs like "Gold" and "Enigma (Give a Bit of Mmh to Me)".
Lear also appeared in Italian films and TV shows in 1978. Later that year, she released Never Trust a Pretty Face. This album included different music styles, from dance versions of old songs to futuristic tracks. It also featured the hit disco song "Fashion Pack (Studio 54)".
In late 1978, Amanda Lear met Alain-Philippe Malagnac d'Argens de Villèle in Paris. They married on March 13, 1979, in the United States. Their marriage lasted 21 years. Sadly, Alain-Philippe died in a house fire on December 16, 2000. This marriage was not officially recognized by the French state. Salvador Dalí and his wife did not approve of the marriage. Because of this, and Lear's busy career, she and Dalí grew apart.
In the early 1980s, Lear had her first art exhibition in Paris. In late 1979, she recorded Diamonds for Breakfast. This album was very popular in Scandinavia. It had hit songs like "Fabulous (Lover, Love Me)" and "Diamonds". The album moved away from the disco sound. It had more of a new wave rock style. Lear spent much of 1980 promoting the album in Europe and Japan.
By 1981, Lear was feeling the pressure of the music business. Her record label wanted her to keep making disco music. She released Incognito, which had new wave, rock, and electronic elements. It had one minor hit, the French song "Égal". This album was also successful in South America. In 1982, she released "Fever", her last song with producer Anthony Monn. Lear tried to leave her record contract but was unsuccessful. She stayed with Ariola until 1983.
Her final album with Ariola was Tam-Tam in 1983. It was a modern synth-pop album. Lear wrote all the English lyrics. She performed some songs on Italian TV, but the album was not widely promoted. It went unnoticed by many international fans.
Television Career and Music Comebacks (1983–1999)
After her disco success, Lear started a very successful career as a TV host in Italy. She became a household name there. She hosted many popular shows, like Premiatissima. She often promoted her music on these shows. She released several dance singles in the mid-1980s, like "Assassino" and "Women". In 1985, she released a mini-album called A L, which had covers of classic songs. However, her music career was not as strong at this time.
In late 1985, Lear appeared in TV commercials for Fiat. She also wrote her first book, My Life with Dalí. This autobiography was about her long friendship with Salvador Dalí. It was first published in French and later in other languages.
After several years in TV, Lear returned to music. Her next album, Secret Passion, was recorded in Los Angeles and Rome. It was meant to be her big comeback. However, just before she could promote it, Lear was seriously injured in a car accident. She took months to recover. Because of this, the album did not do as well as hoped. While recovering, Lear started writing a novel called L'Immortelle.
In the late 1980s, she re-recorded some of her old hits. In 1988, the Italian band CCCP Fedeli alla linea covered her song "Tomorrow". Lear sang guest vocals on it. This was a small hit in Italy. In 1989, she hosted Ars Amanda on Rai 3, an Italian chat show. She interviewed celebrities and politicians while in bed. Lear also became a regular on the French radio show Les Grosses Têtes. To stay popular in Italy, she recorded Uomini più uomini, an all-Italian album. It did not have any hit singles.
Lear continued to record dance music in the 1990s. Her 1992 song "Fantasy" became popular in European clubs. Her next album, Cadavrexquis (1993), was very club-oriented. It included "Fantasy" and re-recorded disco songs. However, neither the single nor the album entered the main music charts. Lear also hosted TV shows and acted in French TV dramas.
In May 1995, Lear launched her new TV show Peep! in Germany. It was very popular, getting over 50% of the TV audience. In June 1995, she performed at a 1970s disco tribute concert in Paris. In autumn, she released Alter Ego, a Eurodance album. This album was also not successful. As a supporter of people with HIV/AIDS, Lear modeled for Paco Rabanne at a charity event in 1996. In November 1996, she announced she would stop touring live.
Lear released Back in Your Arms in 1998. This album had re-recordings of her 1970s disco hits. It also had remixed songs from her 1995 album. The album did not make a big impact. However, the re-recorded songs appeared on many compilation albums. She also starred in the French movie Bimboland with Gérard Depardieu. She hosted an Italian TV makeover show called Il brutto anatroccolo. On the set of this show, Lear met model and actor Manuel Casella. They were together for a long time before splitting in 2008.
Recent Career (2000–Present)
In 2000, Lear sang on a cover of Giorgio Moroder's song "From Here to Eternity". On December 16, 2000, a fire broke out at Lear's house. Her husband, Alain-Philippe, and his friend died in the fire. Lear was in Milan at the time. The fire destroyed her house and many personal items, including Dalí's paintings. She went through a difficult time but soon returned to work. She held an art exhibition called Not a. Lear.
At the end of 2001, she released the album Heart. It was dedicated to her late husband. The album included a cover of "Love Boat" and the dance track "I Just Wanna Dance Again". Both were released as singles.
In 2002, Lear starred in Le Défi, a musical movie. She played a supportive friend. She also sang the title song for her Italian TV show Cocktail d'amore. In 2003, a re-release of Heart was titled Tendance. The next year, Lear did the voice for Edna Mode in the French and Italian versions of the Disney/Pixar movie The Incredibles. Her 1978 song "Enigma" became popular again after being used in a TV advertisement.
In 2005, Lear became a judge on Ballando con le stelle, the Italian version of Dancing with the Stars. She released two dance singles, "Paris by Night" and a remake of "Copacabana". She also released two music collections. In 2006, Lear had an art exhibition in New York. She also received an award from the French Minister of Culture for her contributions to French arts. A large collection of her Ariola songs was released. Her album With Love came out in France in 2006. It was praised by critics. Lear also appeared in more movies and did voice-over work. In 2008, she hosted several TV shows in Italy and France.
In 2009, Lear acted in the comedy play Panique au ministère in Paris. The play was very successful and went on tour. She also did voice work for the German movie Lacoma. Her album Brief Encounters was released in autumn 2009. It included a duet with Italian singer Deadstar called "Someone Else's Eyes". The next month, Lear released her autobiography Je ne suis pas celle que vous croyez... (I am not who you think...).
In April 2011, Lear released the single "Chinese Walk". She also joined the judging panel of the Italian TV show Ciak... si canta!. She did the voice for Janet the Lioness in the French version of Zookeeper. In September, Lear returned to theater for the lead role in Lady Oscar in Paris. This play was also a success and went on tour.
Her album I Don't Like Disco was released in January 2012. In September 2012, Lear modeled for Jean Paul Gaultier's fashion show in Paris. In 2013, she started playing the main part in the play Divina in Paris. In spring 2014, she released My Happiness, an album of Elvis Presley covers. It was promoted by the song and video "Suspicious Minds".
In 2015, she recorded a duet called "Mai più" with Italian singer Gianluca De Rubertis. They also worked together on "Prima del tuo cuore" for Lear's next album, Let Me Entertain You, released in May 2016. Her play La Candidate opened in 2016 and toured France. In 2018, she did voice work for French and Italian versions of Incredibles 2. She also hosted the TV show Voulez-vous coucher avec moi ? and released another book, Délires.
In 2019, Lear joined the judging panel of the Italian TV show Sanremo Young. In 2020, she starred in the films Si Muore Solo Da Vivi and Miss. In 2021, she appeared in the TV drama Camping Paradis in France. In September, Lear returned to theater to play Joan Crawford in a play about Bette Davis and Joan Crawford. She released a new album called Tuberose in 2021.
Amanda Lear is portrayed by Andreja Pejić in the film Dalíland, which was released in 2023. A documentary called Enigma was released in 2025. It compares Amanda Lear's life story with April Ashley's. The film includes a new interview with Lear.
Discography
- Studio albums and main compilations
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Filmography
- Ne jouez pas avec les Martiens (1967)
- Wonderwall (1968)
- Loggerheads (1978)
- Grottenolm (1985)
- L'amour est à réinventer (1997)
- Bimboland (1998)
- La Défi (2002)
- Oliviero Rising (2007)
- Bloody Flowers (2008)
- 8th Wonderland (2010)
- Jodorowsky's Dune (2013)
- Metti una notte (2017)
- Miss (2020)
- Si muore solo da vivi (2020)
- Maison de retraite 2 (2024)
- To Live, To Die, To Live Again (Vivre, mourir, renaître) (2024)
- Enigma (2025, biographical documentary)
Theater
- 2009-2011 : Panique au ministère written by Jean Franco & Guillaume Mélanie, directed by Raymond Acquaviva
- 2011-2013 : Lady Oscar written by Guillaume Mélanie, directed by Éric Civanyan
- 2013-2014 : Divina written by Jean Robert-Charrier, directed by Nicolas Briançon
- 2016-2017 : La Candidate written by Jean Franco & Guillaume Mélanie, directed by Raymond Acquaviva
- 2021-2022 : Qu’est-il arrivé à Bette Davis et Joan Crawford ? written by Jean Marboeuf, directed by Michel Fau
- 2024 : The Scientific Cardplayer written by Jean Franco & Guillaume Mélanie, directed by Raymond Acquaviva
Books
- 1984 : Lear, Amanda (1984) (in fr). Le Dalí d'Amanda. Lausanne: Éditions Favre [fr]. ISBN 2-8289-0175-0. OCLC 461749441. (autobiography)
- 1987 : Lear, A (1987) (in fr). L'Immortelle. Paris: Claude Carrère [fr]. ISBN 2868043631. OCLC 461837831. (novel)
- 1994 : Lear, A (1994) (in fr). L'Amant Dalí : ma vie avec Salvador Dalí. Paris: Éditions Michel Lafon [fr]. ISBN 2840980118. OCLC 807550048. (reprint of Le Dalí d'Amanda, with a foreword by Paco Rabanne)
(reprint of Le Dalí d'Amanda)
- 2006 : Lear, A; Galerie Claudius (2006) (in en). Between dream and reality. Norderstedt: Books on Demand [fr]. ISBN 9783833451850. OCLC 180929230. (collected arts)
- 2009 : Lear, A (2009) (in fr). Je ne suis pas du tout celle que vous croyez…. Paris: Hors collection [fr]. ISBN 9782258081321. OCLC 468417957. https://books.google.com/books?id=XNuyg1xJWuoC&q=Je+ne+suis+pas+du+tout+celle+que+vous+croyez. (autobiography)
- 2018 : Lear, A; Dieudonné, Frédéric (2018) (in fr). Délires. Paris: Le Cherche midi [fr]. ISBN 9782749150437. OCLC 1078361743. https://books.google.com/books?id=H1lvDwAAQBAJ&q=Le+Dal%C3%AD+d%27Amanda. (collection of meditations and anecdotes)
See also
In Spanish: Amanda Lear para niños
