Annabella (born Suzanne Georgette Charpentier, 14 July 1907 – 18 September 1996) was a French actress who appeared in 46 films from 1927 to 1952, including some Hollywood films during the late 1930s and 1940s.

Life and career Annabella was born in Paris, France to Paul Camille Charpentier and Alice Celie Marie Saillard or Gaillord. Paul Charpentier was the managing director of the Journal des Voyages. With Nicolas Benoit, he was one of the founders of the Scouts of France (EDF) in 1911.

Annabella's chance to enter films came when her father entertained a film producer, who gave her a small part in Abel Gance's classic Napoléon (1927). She was not critically acclaimed until she starred in René Clair's Le Million (1931), and over the following decade, she established herself as one of France's popular cinema actresses. For Veille d'armes (1935), she won the Volpi Cup for Best Actress at the Venice Film Festival in 1936.

She was cast as the female lead in the British-made film Wings of the Morning (1937) with Henry Fonda. Under contract to 20th Century Fox, she traveled to America and appeared in Suez (1938) with Loretta Young and Tyrone Power. Her romance with Power was widely reported by movie magazines of the day. Darryl F. Zanuck, movie mogul at 20th Century Fox, did not want his matinee idol married. He offered Annabella a multi-movie deal that would take her overseas. She refused to leave Power, and on completion of Suez, she returned to France to obtain a divorce from her then-husband Jean Murat.Biography: Tyrone Power: The Last Idol (1996). A&E Transcript She and Power married on 23 April 1939. The two honeymooned in Rome. Within a few months, Annabella and Power had again flown to Europe to bring Annabella's mother back to live in their home, and her father and brother stayed behind. Her brother was shot and killed by the Nazis. Annabella made a return trip to bring her daughter Anne from France to live with them. Power adopted Anne before leaving for service in the United States Marine Corps in August 1942. Anne Power later married actor Oskar Werner.Guiles, Fred Lawrence. (1979) Tyrone Power: The Last Idol. Doubleday.

Darryl F. Zanuck, angry with her for marrying his top box-office star, did not cast her in movies despite Annabella's contract with 20th Century-Fox. Annabella was also not lent to other studios. She and Power appeared together in the play Liliom in New Haven, Connecticut. While Power was away during his war service, Annabella appeared in Blithe Spirit in Chicago. On Broadway, she received excellent notices for her work in the play Jacobowsky and the Colonel, directed by Elia Kazan, in 1944. Annabella also embarked on an affair with author Roald Dahl; she had refused to give Power a divorce, and her marriage was strained. Dahl told his wife Liccy that it was an intense and passionate relationship during which Dahl learned a lot about sex from the actress.Sturrock, Donald. (2010) Storyteller Roald Dahl: The Biography. Harper Collins Publ. UK

When Power returned from the war, the couple decided to try to make their marriage work once again.

Annabella again worked in films, playing the female lead in 13 Rue Madeleine (1947) with James Cagney. She and Power divorced in 1948, and Annabella returned to France. She appeared in film director José Luis Sáenz de Heredia's Spanish version of Don Juan (1950), and her final film was released in 1952. After a 1954 television appearance in the American series Suspense, she retired.

Annabella and Tyrone Power remained very close, and after his divorce from Linda Christian, he attempted to reconcile with her, confessing that in giving her up, he had made a terrible mistake. However, Annabella refused. Power informed her that he would not take the elevator to leave her apartment, but the stairs, in case she changed her mind and called him back. She did not.

Annabella died in 1996 after suffering a heart attack in Neuilly-sur-Seine, France, aged 89, and was interred in Passy Cemetery in Haute-Savoie (France).

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes1927Napoléon Violine Fleuri1928MisdealFlora Lévigné1929 1930La Maison de la FlécheBetty Harlowe 1931 Le Million Beatrice His Highness Love Annette Wéber About an Inquest Greta Bienert 1932 Spring Shower Szabó Mária Companion Wanted Solange Pascaud A Son from America Dorette1933 The Battle Bastille Day Anna Mademoiselle Josette, My Woman Josette1934 Caravane Moscow NightsNatacha Kovrine1935 La Bandera Variety Jeanne Variétés The Crew Veille d'armes Jeanne de Corlaix1936 Anne-Marie Anne-Marie1937 Wings of the Morning Young Marie/Maria Dinner at the Ritz Ranie Racine The Citadel of Silence Viana Under the Red Robe Lady Marguerite of Foix1938 The Baroness and the ButlerBaroness Katrina Marissey SuezToni Pellerin Hôtel du Nord Renée1939 Bridal Suite Luise Anzengruber1943 Tonight We Raid Calais Odette Bonnard Bomber's Moon Alexandra "Alec" Zorich1947 13 Rue Madeleine Suzanne de Beaumont1948 Eternal Conflict Florence dite Lili1949 Last Love Hélène Fontenay1950 Don Juan Lady Ontiveras The Man Who Returns from Afar Fanny de la Bossière1952 The Floor BurnsMari Luz Hurtado

References

External links

Photographs and literature Annabella web site