Actress. Born Danielle Yvonne Marie Antoinette Darrieux in Bordeaux, France the daughter of Marie-Louise Witkowski and Jean Darrieux, an army doctor. In 1931 after answering an open-casting call for 'Bal,' she was cast in her first film at 14. Her youthful career produced such films as 'Mauvaise graine' (1934); 'Port-Arthur' and 'Maeyerling' (1936); 'The Rage of Paris,' one of her few American films, and 'Mademoiselle ma mère' (1938); 'Battement de coeur' (Beating Heart, 1940). She was France’s highest-paid movie star of the era. During the Second World War, she remained in France under occupation, and continued to perform, drawing condemnation from her countrymen amidst rumors that she was a German sympathizer. After the war, she spent a long period working to successfully clear her name. She began the next decade in Hollywood, starring in the musical 'Rich, Young, and Pretty' (1951); 'Five Fingers'(1952); and 'Madame de...' (1954) before returning to Europe for a French version of 'Lady Chatterley’s Lover' (1955) as well as such films as 'Un drôle de dimanche' (A Funny Sunday, 1958); 'Les lions sont lâchés (The Lions Are Lose, 1961), 'Le coup de grâce' (1965); and the 1967 musical, 'The Young Girls of Rochefort.' In 1971, she made her Broadway debut when she replaced Katharine Hepburn in the musical production of 'Coco.' Other films included 'Divine' (1975); and 'Holy Year' (1976). She branched out into French television beginning in the 1980s, appearing in such programs as 'Marie-Marie,' 'Bonjour maître,' 'Série noire,' 'La misère des riches,' and 'Un et un font six.' She also appeared in the film 'En haut des marches' (The Top of the Stairs, 1983). She won an honorary Cesar Award in 1985. She appeared in 'Eight Women' (2002) and the mini-series 'Dangerous Liaisons' in 2003, and lent her voice to the animated feature 'Persepolis' in 2007. Her last featured performance was in the 2010 television comedy 'C'est toi c'est tout.' She died at age 100 after a career that spanned eight decades and more than 100 films. She has been called one of France's best-loved actresses.
Actress. Born Danielle Yvonne Marie Antoinette Darrieux in Bordeaux, France the daughter of Marie-Louise Witkowski and Jean Darrieux, an army doctor. In 1931 after answering an open-casting call for 'Bal,' she was cast in her first film at 14. Her youthful career produced such films as 'Mauvaise graine' (1934); 'Port-Arthur' and 'Maeyerling' (1936); 'The Rage of Paris,' one of her few American films, and 'Mademoiselle ma mère' (1938); 'Battement de coeur' (Beating Heart, 1940). She was France’s highest-paid movie star of the era. During the Second World War, she remained in France under occupation, and continued to perform, drawing condemnation from her countrymen amidst rumors that she was a German sympathizer. After the war, she spent a long period working to successfully clear her name. She began the next decade in Hollywood, starring in the musical 'Rich, Young, and Pretty' (1951); 'Five Fingers'(1952); and 'Madame de...' (1954) before returning to Europe for a French version of 'Lady Chatterley’s Lover' (1955) as well as such films as 'Un drôle de dimanche' (A Funny Sunday, 1958); 'Les lions sont lâchés (The Lions Are Lose, 1961), 'Le coup de grâce' (1965); and the 1967 musical, 'The Young Girls of Rochefort.' In 1971, she made her Broadway debut when she replaced Katharine Hepburn in the musical production of 'Coco.' Other films included 'Divine' (1975); and 'Holy Year' (1976). She branched out into French television beginning in the 1980s, appearing in such programs as 'Marie-Marie,' 'Bonjour maître,' 'Série noire,' 'La misère des riches,' and 'Un et un font six.' She also appeared in the film 'En haut des marches' (The Top of the Stairs, 1983). She won an honorary Cesar Award in 1985. She appeared in 'Eight Women' (2002) and the mini-series 'Dangerous Liaisons' in 2003, and lent her voice to the animated feature 'Persepolis' in 2007. Her last featured performance was in the 2010 television comedy 'C'est toi c'est tout.' She died at age 100 after a career that spanned eight decades and more than 100 films. She has been called one of France's best-loved actresses.
Bio by: Iola
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