Marie Laforêt facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Marie Laforêt
Marie Laforêt in 1994
Born	Maïtena Marie Brigitte Doumenach (1939-10-05)5 October 1939 Soulac-sur-Mer, Gironde, France
Died	2 November 2019(2019-11-02) (aged 80) Genolier, Switzerland
Nationality	Swiss French
Occupation	Singer, actress
Spouse(s)	Jean-Gabriel Albicocco (divorced) Eric de Lavandeyra (1984-1995, divorced)
Partner(s)	Judas Azuelos
Children	3 (including Lisa Azuelos)

Marie Laforêt (born Maïtena Marie Brigitte Doumenach; 5 October 1939 – 2 November 2019) was a famous French singer and actress. She was especially well known for her work in the 1960s and 1970s. In 1978, she moved to Geneva, Switzerland, and later became a Swiss citizen.

Her Name's Meaning

Her first name, Maïtena, comes from the Basque language. It means "beloved." People in some parts of France, like the Pyrénées mountains, sometimes use this name. It also sounds like a short version of Marie-Thérèse.

Her last name, Doumenach, comes from the Catalan language. It is spelled Domènec in Catalan. Because of her unique name and her songs, which often used ideas from world folklore, some people wondered if her family had Armenian roots. Marie Laforêt herself sometimes said she was from the Ariège region in southern France.

Her Life Story

Childhood and Early Years

Marie Laforêt was born in a town called Soulac-sur-Mer in France. Her family moved around a lot during Second World War. Her father was a prisoner of war in Germany until 1945. Marie, her sister, and their mother faced many challenges during this time.

After the war, her family settled in Paris. Marie became more religious and even thought about becoming a nun. She went to high school at the Lycee La Fontaine in Paris. There, she discovered her love for acting. She found that performing helped her express her feelings.

Starting Her Career in the 1960s

Marie Laforêt's career began by chance in 1959. She filled in for her sister at a French radio talent show called Naissance d'une étoile (meaning "Birth of a Star") and won! A director named Louis Malle noticed her.

Her first movie role was with the famous actor Alain Delon in the 1960 film Plein Soleil. After this movie, she became very popular. She acted in many films throughout the 1960s. She married director Jean-Gabriel Albicocco, who cast her in some of his movies. One of these was La Fille aux Yeux d'Or (The Girl with the Golden Eyes), which became her nickname.

She also started singing. Her first big hit was "Les Vendanges de l'Amour" in 1963. Her songs were different from the popular, light teenage songs of the time. They were more thoughtful and poetic. Her music often used sounds from folk music around the world, especially from South America and Eastern Europe. She worked with talented French composers who created rich and varied music for her.

Marie Laforêt had two children with businessman Judas Azuelos. Her daughter, Lisa Azuelos, is now a French director and writer.

The 1970s and Beyond

By the end of the 1960s, Marie Laforêt was a unique voice in French pop music. Her songs were special, sometimes too different for her record company. They wanted her to make more upbeat songs. Even though some of her biggest hits, like "Viens, Viens" and "Il a neigé sur Yesterday" (a song about the Beatles breaking up), came out in the 1970s, she slowly lost interest in singing.

In 1978, she moved to Geneva, Switzerland, and opened an art gallery. She stopped making music for a while. In the 1980s, she focused on acting in French and Italian films. She did release a few more songs, but they weren't as popular.

She made a comeback in 1993 with her last album, for which she wrote the lyrics herself. She continued to act in movies and plays in Paris. People loved her performances on stage. In 2005, she went on tour for the first time since 1972, and all her concerts were sold out. Marie Laforêt lived in Geneva and became a Swiss citizen.

Her Music Style

Marie Laforêt loved folk music. She helped make the Bob Dylan song "Blowin' in the Wind" popular in France in 1963. She also sang "House of the Rising Sun". Other folk songs she recorded include "Viens sur la montagne" (a French version of "Go Tell It on the Mountain") and "La voix du silence" (a cover of Simon and Garfunkel's "The Sound of Silence").

She also recorded some rock songs. Her most famous rock song was "Marie-douceur, Marie-colère" in 1966, which was a cover of the Rolling Stones' hit "Paint It Black".

Some of her most memorable pop songs were "Entre toi et moi", "L'amour en fleurs", and "Mon amour, mon ami". Her song "Manchester et Liverpool" became very famous in the former Soviet Union. It was used as the background music for a TV news weather forecast in the 1970s.

A quiet and sweet song called "Je voudrais tant que tu comprennes" (1966) is a favorite among her fans. Another big hit was "Viens, viens" in 1973. Her most well-known song, "Il a neigé sur Yesterday", came out in 1977.

Her Passing

Marie Laforêt passed away on 2 November 2019, in Genolier, Switzerland. She was 80 years old. One of her daughters later shared that she died from bone cancer. Her funeral was held in Paris, and she was buried in the family crypt at the Père-Lachaise Cemetery.

Filmography

Movies

Television Movies

• 1961 : Le Rouge et le Noir de Pierre Cardinal (téléfilm): Mathile De La Mole
• 1965 : La redevance du fantôme de Robert Enrico (téléfilm): Miss Diamond
• 1972 : Kean: Un roi de théâtre de Marcel Moussy (téléfilm): Comtesse Elena de Kloefeld
• 1984 : Emmenez-moi au théâtre (série TV): Pauline
• 1987 : La Mafia 3 (La Piovra 3) de Luigi Perelli (série TV): Anna Antinari
• 1988 : Le loufiat (série TV): la star
• 1989 : La Bugiarda, de Franco Giraldi (téléfilm): Elvira
• 1989 : Isabella la ladra (série TV): Elvira
• 1990 : L'affaire Rodani (Quattro piccole donne) de Gianfranco Albano (série TV): la mère des quatre filles
• 1992 : Un cane sciolto 3 de Giorgio Capitani (téléfilm): Hélène
• 1994 : A che punto è la notte ? de Nanni Loy (téléfilm): Chantal Guidi
• 1995 : Adrien Le Sage: Ma fille est impossible (téléfilm): Comtesse de Pontigny
• 1996 : L'histoire du Samedi (série TV): Françoise
• 1997 : Le Désert de feu (Desierte di fuoco) d'Enzo G. Castellari (téléfilm): Rahma
• 1998 : Jeudi 12 de Patrick Vidal (série TV): Françoise Gamelin
• 1998 : Villa Vanille de Jean Sagols (téléfilm): Pronia

See also

In Spanish: Marie Laforêt para niños

• Lisa Azuelos