(born Oct. 22/23, 1844, Paris, France—died March 26, 1923, Paris) French actress. The illegitimate child of a courtesan, she was encouraged to pursue a theatrical career by one of her mother's lovers, the duke de
Morny. After a brief appearance at the
Comédie-Française (1862–63), she joined the Odéon theatre (1866–72), where she acted in
Kean by
Alexandre Dumas père and
Ruy Blas by
Victor Hugo, charming audiences with her “golden voice.” Returning to the Comédie-Française (1872–80), she starred in
Phèdre to great acclaim in Paris and London. She formed her own company in 1880 and toured the world in
The Lady of the Camellias by Alexandre Dumas
fils,
Adrienne Lecouvreur by
Eugène Scribe, four plays written for her by
Victorien Sardou, and
The Eaglet by
Edmond Rostand. After an injury to her leg forced its amputation (1915), she strapped on a wooden leg and chose roles she could play largely seated. One of the best-known figures in the history of the stage, she was made a member of France's Legion of Honour in 1914.
Source: Encyclopedia Britannica
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