Johanne Harrelle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Johanne Harrelle
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| Born | January 29, 1930 |
| Died | August 4, 1994 (aged 64) Nuns' Island, Quebec, Canada
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| Nationality | Canadian |
| Occupation | actress |
Johanne Harrelle (January 29, 1930 – August 4, 1994) was a Canadian actress, model, and writer. She was the first Black woman to become well-known in the fashion world of Quebec and Canada.
Early Life and Fashion Career
Johanne Harrelle was born Joan Harrell. When she was only 3 years old, her African American father died and her French Canadian mother became sick. Because of this, Johanne and her two brothers grew up in an orphanage.
Later, she became known as Johanne Harrelle in the fashion world. She made her first appearance on a fashion runway in the 1950s at the fancy Ritz Carlton Hotel in Montreal. At that time, it was very rare to see Black models in Canada. This made her a pioneer in the industry.
Acting Career and À tout prendre
Johanne Harrelle is perhaps most famous for her role in the movie À tout prendre (1964). This was the first major film by director Claude Jutra. In the movie, Johanne played a version of herself. She was the companion to the main character, Claude, who was played by Claude Jutra.
Her role in the film showed how people in French Canada sometimes saw her as an outsider. Even though she was born in Montreal, people often thought she was from Haiti. The movie even played with these ideas, like when she sang a song in a special language called patois, called "Ti-zoizeau".
Personal Life and Legacy
Johanne Harrelle was married two times. She lived for 15 years with her second husband, Edgar Morin, who was a famous sociologist from Paris. She had two sons named Val Harrelle and Alain Cadieux.
Johanne Harrelle passed away from cancer on August 4, 1994. She is remembered for breaking barriers in both fashion and film in Canada.
