María Casares facts for kids

Quick facts for kids María Casarès
María Casarès, photographed by Studio Harcourt in 1944
Born	María Victoria Casares y Pérez (1922-11-21)21 November 1922 A Coruña, Galicia, Spain
Died	22 November 1996(1996-11-22) (aged 74) Alloue, Poitou-Charentes, France
Alma mater	Paris Conservatoire
Occupation	Actress
Spouse(s)	André Schlesser ​ ​ (m. 1978; his death 1985)​
Parent(s)	Santiago Casares Quiroga (father)

María Victoria Casares y Pérez (born November 21, 1922 – died November 22, 1996) was a famous actress. She was born in Spain but became a very important star in French theatre and movies. In France, people knew her as Maria Casarès.

Early Life and Moving to France

María Victoria Casares y Pérez was born in A Coruña, a city in Galicia, Spain. Her father, Santiago Casares Quiroga, was a well-known politician. He even served as the Prime Minister of Spain.

When the Spanish Civil War started in 1936, María's family had to leave Spain. Her father went to London, but María and her mother found safety in Paris, France.

In Paris, María went to the Victor Duruy school. There, she learned to speak French. A teacher and his Spanish wife encouraged her to try acting. After school, she took voice lessons. She then joined the Paris Conservatoire, a famous acting school. She won top awards for her acting in both serious plays (tragedy) and funny plays (comedy).

A Star on Stage and Screen

In July 1942, María Casarès got her first acting job with Marcel Herrand. She performed at the Théâtre des Mathurins for three years. During this time, she acted in many plays. These included Deirdre of the Sorrows and The Master Builder. She also appeared in Le Malentendu (The Misunderstanding) by Albert Camus. She later had a very important friendship and working relationship with Camus.

Becoming a Film Actress

María Casarès also started acting in movies. Her first film was Les Enfants du paradis (1945). This movie is considered one of the greatest French films ever made.

She also starred in Les dames du Bois de Boulogne (1945) and The Charterhouse of Parma (1948). She worked with famous directors like Robert Bresson and Christian-Jaque.

For director Jean Cocteau, she played the role of Death. She played this character in his films Orphée (1950) and Testament of Orpheus (1960). In 1989, she was nominated for a César Award for her role in the film La Lectrice.

Success in Theatre

From 1952 onwards, María Casarès focused mostly on theatre. She still acted in movies sometimes, but the stage was her main passion. She joined important theatre groups like the Festival d'Avignon and the Théâtre National Populaire. She was the first foreign-born actress to perform at the famous Comédie-Française.

She traveled all over the world, performing in classic French plays. In 1958, she acted in Le Cid and Le Triomphe de l'Amour (The Triumph of Love) on Broadway in New York City.

Later Life and Legacy

María Casarès became a French citizen in 1975. Three years later, she married André Schlesser. He was an actor known as Dade and had been her partner for a long time.

In 1980, she wrote her autobiography called Résidente privilégiée (Privileged Resident). In her book, she wrote about her long and important friendship with Albert Camus. They worked together on many plays. Their many letters to each other were published in 2017. These letters show how much they valued their connection and shared ideas.

María Casarès passed away from cancer on November 22, 1996. This was the day after her 74th birthday. She died at her country home, Château de La Vergne. She left her property to the village of Alloue. Today, this place is a home for artists and a venue for performances.

Filmography

Films

TV Shows

See also

In Spanish: María Casares para niños