Simone Signoret

(This post had been prepared before I got sick, it's a bit unfinished, but I hope you enjoy it anyway)

So French yet so international, and so beautiful, but she never cared much about beauty, and as she got older she looked her age, some say that she sometimes looked even older than her age, but she could still attract audiences until her end, on cinema, television and theatre.
French and French, she was actually born in Wiesbaden in Germany.
She married Yves Montand in 1951, and it wasn't always easy to keep him on the straight and narrow road, when he fell in love with other women.

This year we celebrate 100 years since Simone Signoret's birth.



Simone Signoret (1921–1985)


During the occupation of France, Signoret mixed with an artistic group of writers and actors who met at the Café de Flore in the Saint-Germain-des-Prés quarter. By this time, she had developed an interest in acting and was encouraged by her friends, including her lover, Daniel Gélin, to follow her ambition. In 1942, she began appearing in bit parts and was able to earn enough money to support her mother and two brothers as her father, who was a French patriot, had fled the country in 1940 to join General De Gaulle in England. She took her mother's maiden name for the screen to help hide her Jewish roots.


Offers from out side France came quick, Against the Wind 1948, a British war drama. Seen here with Gordon Jackson.


One of the many stars in Max Ophuls La Ronde 1950, seen here with Gerard Philipe


Casque d'or 1952, directed by Jacques Becker, Simone won a BAFTA Award for Best Foreign Actress.


Therese Raquin aka The Adultress 1953 and based on a novel by Emile Zola and directed by Marcel Carné. Seen here with Raf Vallone.


Les diaboliques 1955. who actually got killed? and what happened to the body? directed by Henri-Georges Clouzut. Seen here with Vera Clouzot and Charles Vanel.


Les sorcières de Salem aka The Witches of Salem 1957, based on a play by Arthur Miller and a French translation by Jean Paul Sartre.
Simone won a BAFTA Award for Best Foreign Actress.
An odd co-production between France and the old German Democratic Republic (East Germany).


Room at the Top 1959, directed by Jack Clayton. 
Simone won an Academy Award Oscar.
Seen here with Laurence Harvey.
An early "angry young man" movie.


Term of Trial 1962 directed by Peter Glenville and based on a novel by James Barlow.
Laurence Olivier can be seen in the background.

During the 1960's she spent a lot of time in America (U.S.A), she liked playing theatre there, but didn't fancy making movies the, at least not too many.


Ship of Fools 1965 directed by Stanley Kramer.
Seen here with Oskar Werner
Simone was nominated for an Oscar.


Taking a break during Compartiment tueurs aka The Sleeping Car Murders 1965, with husband Yves Montand.
An early crime who-done-it by Costa-Gavras.


Games 1967, an occult thriller directed by Curtis Harrington.


L'armée des ombres aka Army of Shadow 1970 directed by Jean-Pierre Melville.
A small part, but important to the story.


Le Chat 1972 with Jean Gabin.
Older couple that's drifted apart, the only thing that keeps them together is their beloved cat.


La vie devant soi aka Madame Rosa 1977 as an elderly Madam and Auschwitz survivor, based on a novel by Romain Gary.
The movie won a Best Foreign Language Oscar.


L'étoile du Nord aka The North Star 1982, based on a novel by Georges Simenon.
Seen here with Philippe Noiret.




Thanks for watching!

All kind of opinions are well.