Danielle Darrieux facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Danielle Darrieux
Darrieux in a publicity photo for 5 Fingers (1952)
Born	Danielle Yvonne Marie Antoinette Darrieux (1917-05-01)1 May 1917 Bordeaux, Gironde, France
Died	17 October 2017(2017-10-17) (aged 100) Bois-le-Roi, Eure, France
Years active	1931–2010
Spouse(s)	Henri Decoin ​ ​ (m. 1935; div. 1941)​ Porfirio Rubirosa ​ ​ (m. 1942; div. 1947)​ Georges Mitsikidès ​ ​ (m. 1948; died 1991)​
Children	1 (adopted)

Danielle Darrieux was a famous French actress. She was also a talented singer and dancer. Born on May 1, 1917, she had one of the longest careers in movie history. She appeared in over 110 films! Her career lasted for an amazing eight decades.

Early Life and Career Beginnings

Danielle Darrieux was born in Bordeaux, France, during World War I. Her father was a doctor in the French Army. Sadly, he passed away when Danielle was only seven years old.

She grew up in Paris and studied the cello. When she was just 14, she got a part in a musical movie called Le Bal (1931). People loved her beauty, singing, and dancing. This led to many more movie offers. Her role in the film Mayerling (1936) made her very famous.

In 1935, Danielle married director Henri Decoin. He encouraged her to try acting in Hollywood. She signed a contract with Universal Studios. She starred in The Rage of Paris (1938) with Douglas Fairbanks, Jr.. After this, she decided to return to Paris.

Life During Wartime and Later Films

Danielle Darrieux in 2008

During World War II, Danielle Darrieux continued to act in films. This was a difficult time for many. Some people criticized her choice. However, it was reported that her brother's safety was threatened. She later married Porfirio Rubirosa, a diplomat. They lived in Switzerland until the war ended.

After the war, Danielle Darrieux continued her successful acting career. She appeared in the MGM musical Rich, Young and Pretty (1951). She also starred in 5 Fingers (1952) with James Mason. Back in France, she made movies like The Earrings of Madame de... (1953) and The Red and the Black (1954). She also played a role in the big movie Alexander the Great (1956).

In 1961, she worked in England on The Greengage Summer. She also performed in a romantic comedy play in Paris.

Singing and Stage Work

Danielle Darrieux was known for her singing too. In the film musical The Young Girls of Rochefort (1966), she was the only main actor who sang her own songs. Usually, other people would sing for the actors in these types of movies. She also performed as a concert singer in the 1960s.

In 1970, she took over a role in the Broadway musical Coco. She also appeared in other musicals. She worked again with director Jacques Demy in the film Une chambre en ville (1982). Again, she sang her own parts in this musical film.

Awards and Later Years

In 1985, Danielle Darrieux received an Honorary César Award. This award recognized her long and important work in the movie industry. She continued to act even as she got older. One of her last roles was providing the voice for a grandmother in the animated movie Persepolis (2007). This film tells the story of a girl growing up during the Iranian Revolution.

Death

Danielle Darrieux passed away on October 17, 2017. She was 100 years old. Her death was due to problems from a fall.

Awards

Images for kids

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  Danielle Darrieux in 5 Fingers (1952)

See also

In Spanish: Danielle Darrieux para niños