Juliette Gréco facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Juliette Gréco
Gréco in 1961
Background information
Born	(1927-02-07)7 February 1927 Montpellier, France
Died	23 September 2020(2020-09-23) (aged 93) Ramatuelle, France
Genres	Chanson Cabaret
Occupation(s)	Singer Actress
Years active	1946–2016

Juliette Gréco (born February 7, 1927 – died September 23, 2020) was a famous French singer and actress. She was known for her unique style and powerful voice. Some of her most famous songs include "Jolie Môme," "Déshabillez-moi," and "La Javanaise." She often sang songs with lyrics written by famous French poets and singers like Jacques Prévert and Serge Gainsbourg. Her amazing career lasted for 60 years, ending in 2015 with her final world tour called "Merci." As an actress, Juliette Gréco appeared in movies by well-known French directors such as Jean Cocteau.

Early Life and Family

Juliette Gréco was born in Montpellier, France. Her father was from Corsica, and her mother was from Bordeaux. Juliette did not feel loved by her mother when she was a child. She was raised by her grandparents in Bordeaux with her older sister, Charlotte.

After her grandparents passed away, her mother brought them to Paris. In 1938, Juliette started training as a ballerina at the famous Opéra Garnier.

When World War II began, her family moved back to southwest France. Juliette was a student at a school in Montauban. The Gréco family became involved in the French Resistance, a group that fought against the occupation of France. In 1943, her mother was arrested.

Juliette and her sister decided to return to Paris. However, they were captured by the Gestapo (the secret police) in September 1943. Her mother and sister were sent to a prison camp called Ravensbrück. Juliette was only 16, so she stayed in prison for several months before being released. After her release, she walked eight miles back to Paris to get her belongings. Her former teacher, Hélène Duc, took care of her.

In 1945, Juliette's mother and sister returned from the prison camp. This happened after the Red Army freed Ravensbrück. Juliette moved to Saint-Germain-des-Prés in Paris in 1945. Her mother had moved to Indochina, leaving Juliette and her sister behind.

Juliette Gréco in 1955

Personal Life and Passing

Juliette Gréco was married three times during her life:

• She married actor Philippe Lemaire (from 1953 to 1956).
• Then she married actor Michel Piccoli (from 1966 to 1977).
• Her last marriage was to pianist Gérard Jouannest (from 1988 until he passed away in 2018).

With Philippe Lemaire, she had a daughter named Laurence-Marie. Laurence-Marie was born in 1954 and sadly passed away from cancer in 2016. She was 62 years old.

Juliette Gréco lived in both Paris and Saint-Tropez.

She passed away on September 23, 2020, at the age of 93.

Her Legacy and Influence

The "Juliette Gréco" rose at the Roseraie de Bagatelle

Juliette Gréco's life and style inspired many artists.

• Actress Anna Mouglalis played Juliette Gréco in the 2010 movie Gainsbourg: A Heroic Life.
• The famous writer Jean-Paul Sartre based a singer in his book series The Roads to Freedom on Juliette Gréco.
• English singer Ray Davies mentioned Gréco in his song "Art School Babe."
• The famous song "Michelle" by the Beatles was inspired by Juliette Gréco. It was also inspired by the artistic culture of Paris. Paul McCartney said that he and his bandmates admired Juliette Gréco. He said she was a "real chanteuse," which means a female singer.
• John Lennon wrote that he always dreamed of a woman like Juliette Gréco. He described her as beautiful, intelligent, and free-spirited.
• Singer Marianne Faithfull said that Juliette Gréco was her "absolute idol" when she was young. She called Gréco her "role model for life."

In 1999, a special rose was named after her. It is called the "Juliette Gréco" rose.

Awards and Honors

Juliette Gréco received several important awards from France:

• Commander of the Legion of Honour (2012): She was first a Knight (1984), then an Officer (2002).
• National Order of Merit (2015): She was first an Officer (1999), then a Commander (2006).
• Commander of the Order of Arts and Letters (2016).

Her Books

Juliette Gréco wrote two autobiographies, which are books about her own life:

• 1982: Jujube (published in French)
• 2012: Je suis faite comme ça (meaning "I am made like this")

Notable Songs

Filmography

Images for kids

• 

  Gréco in Amsterdam, 1962

See also

In Spanish: Juliette Gréco para niños