Marie Bell (23 December 1900 – 14 August 1985), born Marie-Jeanne Bellon-Downey, was a French tragedian, comic actor and stage director. She was the director of the Théâtre du Gymnase in Paris from 1962 onwards, and this theatre now bears her name.
Early life Marie Bell was born on 23 December 1900 in Bègles near Bordeaux (France). With her Irish father, she spent her childhood between Bordeaux and England.
Career Bell was a classical actress. She also appeared in avant-garde theatre, Jean Genet in particular.
Her interpretation of the role of Phèdre is highly noted : "Voir Marie Bell dans Phèdre est une chance unique pour quiconque veut savoir ce qu'est le génie français." André Malraux"Seeing Marie Bell in Phèdre is a unique opportunity for anyone who wants to know what is the French genius." Cited in L'Avant-Scène n°342 (October 1965)
During the German Occupation of France (1940–1944), she participated in the French resistance as one of nine directors of the Front national du théâtre.Marie-Agnès Joubert, La Comédie-Française sous l’Occupation, Paris, Tallandier, 1998, p. 353. She was awarded the decoration of the Légion d'honneur by President Charles de Gaulle.
Personal life Bell married Jean Chevrier, who was also an actor.
Death Bell died on 14 August 1985 in Neuilly-sur-Seine, Hauts-de-Seine, France. She was buried alongside her husband Jean Chevrier at the Monaco Cemetery not far from Josephine Baker.
Filmography Paris (dir. René Hervil, 1924), as Marthe de Lignières Madame Récamier (dir. Tony Lekain and Gaston Ravel, 1928), as Juliette Récamier The Farewell Waltz (dir. Henry Roussel, 1928), as Maria Wodzińska Figaro (dir. Tony Lekain and Gaston Ravel, 1929), as Suzanne La nuit est à nous (The Night Is Ours) (dir. Carl Froelich and Henry Roussel, 1930), as Bettine de Barsac Le Joker (dir. Erich Waschneck, 1930), as Harriet Williams (dir. Curtis Bernhardt and Jean Tarride, 1931), as Lady Falkland La Folle Aventure (dir. Carl Froelich and André-Paul Antoine, 1931), as Nelly Irwin Luck (dir. René Guissart, 1931), as Tania Balieff The Man with the Hispano (dir. Jean Epstein, 1933), as Stéphane Oswill The Princess's Whim (dir. Karl Hartl and Henri-Georges Clouzot, 1934), as Isabelle Fedora (dir. Louis J. Gasnier, 1934), as Fedora Le Grand Jeu (dir. Jacques Feyder, 1934), as Florence / Irma Poliche (dir. Abel Gance, 1934), as Rosine (dir. Giovacchino Forzano, 1935), as Anne-Marie de Beaulieu (dir. Giovacchino Forzano and Marcel Cravenne, 1936), as Anne-Marie de Beaulieu (dir. Abel Gance, 1936), as Marguerite La Garçonne (dir. Jean de Limur, 1936), as Monique Lerbier – la garçonne Temptation (dir. Pierre Caron, 1936), as Irène de Bergue When Midnight Strikes (dir. Léo Joannon, 1936), as Mattia Les Demi-vierges (dir. Pierre Caron, 1936), as Maud de Rouvre Blanchette (dir. Pierre Caron, 1937), as Blanchette Rousset (dir. Walter Kapps, 1937), as Renée Morhange Un carnet de bal (Life Dances On) (dir. Julien Duvivier, 1937), as Christine Surgère (dir. Maurice Gleize, 1938), de Simone La Glu (dir. Jean Choux, 1938), as Fernande "La Glu" Noix de coco (Cocoanut) (dir. Jean Boyer, 1939), as Caroline The Phantom Carriage (dir. Julien Duvivier, 1939), as Sœur Maria Those of the Sky (dir. Yvan Noé, 1941), as Hélène Private Life (dir. Walter Kapps, 1942), as Florence Le colonel Chabert (dir. René Le Hénaff, 1943), as Comtesse Rosine Ferraud Il gattopardo (The Leopard) (dir. Luchino Visconti, 1963), uncredited La Bonne Soupe (dir. Robert Thomas, 1964), as Marie-Paule Vaghe stelle dell'Orsa (Sandra) (dir. Luchino Visconti, 1965), as Sandra's mother Hotel Paradiso (dir. Peter Glenville, 1966), as La Grande Antoinette Phèdre (dir. Pierre Jourdan, 1968), as Phèdre Closed Shutters (dir. Jean-Claude Brialy, 1973), as Aurore
References
External links
Marie Bell at Ciné-Ressources (French)
brief biography of Marie Bell