Nathalie Delon facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Nathalie Delon
Delon in The Sisters (1969)
Born	Francine Canovas (1941-08-01)1 August 1941 Oujda, French Protectorate in Morocco
Died	21 January 2021(2021-01-21) (aged 79) Paris, France
Occupation	actress model film director writer
Years active	1965–2010
Known for	Le Samouraï La leçon particulière The Monk Bluebeard A Whisper in the Dark
Height	1.65 m (5 ft 5 in)
Spouse(s)	Guy Barthélémy ​ ​ (m. 1957; div. 1964)​ Alain Delon ​ ​ (m. 1964; div. 1969)​
Partner(s)	Chris Blackwell (1978–1993)
Children	Nathalie Barthélémy Anthony Delon

Nathalie Delon (born Francine Canovas; 1 August 1941 – 21 January 2021) was a talented French actress, model, film director, and writer. In the 1960s, many people thought Nathalie was one of the most beautiful women in the world. She became famous for her very first acting role. She starred alongside her husband, actor Alain Delon, in the movie Le Samouraï (1967), directed by Jean-Pierre Melville. Nathalie appeared in 30 films and also directed two of her own. She was even called a "muse" (inspiration) for the famous band The Rolling Stones.

Early Life

Francine Canovas was born on 1 August 1941 in Oujda, a city in what was then the French Protectorate in Morocco. Her family was French, with roots in Italy and Spain. Her father, Louis Canovas, managed a transport company. He left the family when Nathalie was just eight months old in 1942. Her mother was Antoinette Rodriguez. Nathalie had one sister, Louisette, and one brother.

Personal Life

In 1957, Nathalie married Guy Barthélémy. They lived in Morocco and had a daughter, also named Nathalie Barthélémy. The couple separated in 1960, and Nathalie moved to Paris in 1961. Their divorce was finalized in July 1964.

In August 1962, Nathalie met the famous French actor Alain Delon at a nightclub in Paris. They started a secret relationship. In April 1964, they got engaged, and on 13 August 1964, Nathalie and Alain were married. Their son, Anthony Delon, was born on September 30, 1964, in Los Angeles. Nathalie and Alain were one of the most glamorous and talked-about couples of the 1960s. They separated in June 1968 and divorced on 14 February 1969. They worked together on two films: Le Samouraï (while married) and Doucement les Basses (after their separation).

Nathalie Delon also had relationships with other notable people, including Chris Blackwell, with whom she was together for 15 years (1978–1993).

Career Highlights

During the 1960s, Nathalie Delon worked as a model. She was photographed by many top photographers for well-known magazines like Vogue.

Becoming a Film Star

In 1967, Nathalie began her acting career. She starred opposite her husband, Alain Delon, in the hit film Le Samouraï by Jean-Pierre Melville. Critics noted that both Nathalie and Alain were almost silent in the film, but their intense looks were enough to captivate the audience. This movie made them a legendary couple in cinema.

After Le Samouraï, Nathalie Delon continued acting until the 1980s. In 1968, she appeared in The Private Lesson, which made her very popular in Japan. She was even ranked among the top 10 foreign actresses there. In 1971, she acted in When Eight Bells Toll with Anthony Hopkins. In 1972, she appeared in The Monk with Franco Nero.

Directing and Writing

Besides acting in 30 films, Nathalie Delon also directed two movies. One was Ils appellent ça un accident [fr] (which means They Call It an Accident) in 1982. She also wrote the story for this film, which was about a mother whose son dies during surgery. Her second film as a director was Sweet Lies in 1988.

Later Life and Legacy

In 2006, Nathalie Delon published her memoir, a book about her life, called Pleure pas, c'est pas grave (Don't cry, it's okay).

Nathalie Delon passed away in Paris on 21 January 2021, at the age of 79. She died from pancreatic cancer.

Filmography

Television

See also

In Spanish: Nathalie Delon para niños