Jeanne Moreau facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jeanne Moreau
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Moreau at the Venice Film Festival, 1958
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| Born | 23 January 1928 Paris, France
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| Died | 31 July 2017 (aged 89) Paris, France
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| Resting place | Montmartre Cemetery, Paris |
| Alma mater | Conservatoire de Paris |
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| Years active | 1947–2015 |
| Spouse(s) | |
| Children | 1 |
Jeanne Moreau (born 23 January 1928 – died 31 July 2017) was a famous French actress, singer, writer, and director. She first appeared on stage in 1947. Soon, she became one of the top actresses at the Comédie-Française, a famous French theater.
Moreau started acting in movies in 1949. She became very well-known for her main roles in films like Elevator to the Gallows (1958), La Notte (1961), and Jules et Jim (1962). She was most active in the 1960s but kept acting in films until she was in her 80s. The famous director Orson Welles once called her "the greatest actress in the world."
She won many awards for her acting. These include the Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Actress for Seven Days... Seven Nights (1960). She also won a BAFTA Award for Viva Maria! (1965). In 1992, she received the César Award for Best Actress for The Old Lady Who Walked in the Sea. Jeanne Moreau also got several awards for her lifetime achievements in film. These included a BAFTA Fellowship in 1996 and a special Golden Palm from the Cannes Film Festival in 2003.
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Early Life and Education
Jeanne Moreau was born in Paris, France. Her mother, Katherine, was a dancer. Her father, Anatole-Désiré Moreau, owned a restaurant. Jeanne's father was French, and her mother was English. Her mother came from Oldham, England, and had some Irish family.
When Jeanne was young, her family moved to Vichy in the south of France. They spent holidays in a small village where many of her father's relatives lived. Jeanne said it was "wonderful there." During World War II, her family separated, and Jeanne lived with her mother in Paris.
Jeanne lost interest in school. When she was 16, she saw a play called Antigone. This made her realize she wanted to be an actress. She then studied acting at the Conservatoire de Paris, a famous acting school.
A Star's Journey: Jeanne Moreau's Career
Starting on Stage
In 1947, Jeanne Moreau began her acting career at the Avignon Festival. She soon joined the Comédie-Française, a very important theater company in France. By her twenties, she was already one of their leading actresses.
She started taking small roles in films in 1949. However, she spent many more years focused on theater. She performed in plays like A Month in the Country and Pygmalion.
Breaking into Film
In the late 1950s, after being in some successful movies, Moreau began working with new French film directors. One of her first big film successes was Elevator to the Gallows (1958). This film was directed by Louis Malle, who was a new director at the time. She then worked with Malle again on The Lovers (1959).
Moreau became a key figure in the French New Wave film movement. This was a new style of filmmaking in France. Her role in François Truffaut's New Wave film Jules et Jim (1962) made her famous around the world.
She also worked with many other well-known directors. These included Michelangelo Antonioni, Orson Welles, Luis Buñuel, and Wim Wenders.
Beyond Acting
In 1983, Jeanne Moreau was chosen to lead the jury at the 33rd Berlin International Film Festival. This is a very important film event. In 2005, she received the Stanislavsky Award at the 27th Moscow International Film Festival.
Moreau was also a talented singer. She released several music albums. In 1984, she even performed with the famous American singer Frank Sinatra at Carnegie Hall in New York.
Besides acting and singing, Moreau also worked behind the camera. She wrote, directed, and produced films. Her work as a filmmaker was featured in the 1988 film Calling the Shots.
Personal Connections
Jeanne Moreau had many close friends who were famous writers. These included Jean Cocteau, Jean Genet, and Marguerite Duras.
She was married twice. First to Jean-Louis Richard and later to American film director William Friedkin. She also had relationships with other directors like Louis Malle and François Truffaut. The fashion designer Pierre Cardin was also a close friend.
The American actress Sharon Stone was a good friend of Moreau's. In 1998, Sharon Stone gave a special speech honoring Jeanne Moreau's life and career. As Orson Welles said, Jeanne Moreau was "the greatest actress in the world." She was truly one of France's most talented performers.
Jeanne Moreau passed away on 31 July 2017, in her home in Paris. She was 89 years old.
Films Directed by Jeanne Moreau
- Lumière (1976)
- L'Adolescente (1979)
- Lillian Gish (1983, a TV documentary)
Awards and Recognitions
Jeanne Moreau received many important awards throughout her career. Here are some of her most notable achievements:
- 1960: Won Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Actress for Moderato cantabile.
- 1962: Won Jussi Awards Diploma of Merit – Foreign Actress for La notte.
- 1964: Won Karlovy Vary International Film Festival Best Actress for Diary of a Chambermaid.
- 1967: Won BAFTA Award for Best Foreign Actress for Viva Maria!.
- 1992: Won César Award for Best Actress for The Old Lady Who Walked in the Sea.
- 1992: Received the Career Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival for her lifetime work.
- 1996: Received an Academy Fellowship from the BAFTA Awards.
- 1997: Won the Life Achievement Award at the European Film Awards.
- 2000: Received an Honorary Golden Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival.
- 2003: Received an Honorary Golden Palm at the Cannes Film Festival.
- 2008: Received an Honorary César at the César Awards.
Theater Awards
- 1988: Won a Molière Award for Best Actress for her role in the play Le Récit de la servante Zerline.
Images for kids
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Moreau in 2009
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Jeanne Moreau's grave in Cimetière de Montmartre.
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See also
In Spanish: Jeanne Moreau para niños
