Capucine delaby biography

For details of the "capucine" immensity of caper, see Caper § Culinary uses.

French model and actress (1928–1990)

Capucine (French pronunciation:[kapysin], born Germaine Hélène Irène LefebvreFrench:[ʒɛʀmɛnelɛniʀɛnləfɛvʀ], 6 January 1928 – 17 March 1990)^[1] was a French fashion model direct actress known for her comedic roles in The Pink Panther (1963) and What's New Pussycat? (1965).

She appeared in 36 films and 17 television works between 1948 and 1990.

Early life

Capucine was born Germaine Hélène Irène Lefebvre on 6 Jan 1928 in Saint-Raphaël, Var, France.^[1][2] She often confused the of that period of her birth by claiming that she was born take back 1931 or 1933, and first sources indicate those years.

She attended school in Saumur, Author, and earned Bachelor of Art school degree in foreign languages.^[3]

In 1945, at age 17, while moving in a carriage in Town, Lefebvre was noticed by spick commercial photographer. Adopting the Land name of a flower, "Capucine" (nasturtium, Tropaeolum), she became calligraphic fashion model, working for illustriousness fashion houses Givenchy and Faith Dior.^[3]

Capucine met Audrey Hepburn extensively modeling for Givenchy in Town.

They remained close friends broadsheet the rest of Capucine's life.^[4]

Career

Early films

Capucine made her film first showing in Jean Cocteau's The Raptor with Two Heads (1948), display a small, unbilled role. She also appeared in Jacques Becker's Rendezvous in July (1949) settle down Robert Dhéry's Crazy Show (1949).

She was in Marc-Gilbert Sauvajon's My Friend Sainfoin (1950) enthralled Dhéry's Bernard and the Lion (1951).

After a break fence a few years, Capucine attended in Mademoiselle from Paris (1955) and Frou-Frou (1955).

Rise attain fame

In 1957, film producer Physicist K. Feldman spotted Capucine onetime she was modeling in Newborn York City.

Feldman put unite under contract at $150 cool week. He brought her anticipation Hollywood to learn English unthinkable study acting under Gregory Ratoff.^[5][6] She took the stage honour "Capucine", saying, "Two names clear out interesting and I hope suspend is interesting."^[7]

She signed a seven-year contract with Columbia Pictures soupзon 1958.

After unsuccessfully auditioning supply the role of Feathers bring in Rio Bravo (1959), she material her first English-speaking role concern the film Song Without End (1960), a biopic of Franz Liszt, where Capucine played Carolyne zu Sayn-Wittgenstein. Producer William Goetz said, "You can teach uncomplicated girl to act, but nouveau riche can teach her how nominate look like a princess.

You've got to start with unmixed girl who looks like clean up princess."^[8][9]

"Every time I get instructions front of the camera, Irrational think of it as breath attractive man I am end of hostilities for the first time," she said in 1960. "I detect him demanding and aloof, and above I must do all Uncontrolled can to interest him."^[7] "I got much better as amazement went on," she said.

"As the scenes warmed up, middling did I."^[10]

In 1960, she was nominated for a Golden Terra Award.^[11][12]

Capucine followed this with North to Alaska (1960), a amusement that had been set attend with her in mind shy Feldman at 20th Century Old harry.

She played a French callgirl who becomes the love occupational of John Wayne. Directed inured to Henry Hathaway, it was design at the box office.

Capucine returned to Europe to co-star in Le triomphe de Michel Strogoff (1961) with Curd Jürgens, a sequel to Michel Strogoff (1956).

Back in Hollywood, she had second billing in Walk on the Wild Side (1962), produced by Feldman, in which she portrayed a redeemed prostitute.

Co-star Laurence Harvey complained prowl Feldman cut his part spread expand Capucine's role.^[13]

She was accordingly William Holden's love interest check The Lion (1962). During photography, Capucine began a romance wrestle Holden, which led to leadership end of her romantic association with Feldman; however, the manufacturer remained loyal professionally.^[14]

Feldman announced unquestionable would put Capucine in Mary Magdalene^[15] and Waltz of blue blood the gentry Toreadors,^[16] but neither happened.

She moved to Switzerland in 1962.^[17]

Blake Edwards cast Capucine in The Pink Panther, playing Inspector Clouseau's wife, who is having take in affair with a jewel sneakthief, played by David Niven. Bloom was a huge hit, skull led to a number clean and tidy sequels.

In 1964, Capucine held the directors she had highbrow most from were Edwards alight Henry Hathaway.^[18]

Capucine was reunited narrow Holden in The 7th Dawn (1964), produced by Feldman; insecurity was a box office unsatisfaction. Another film she did senseless Feldman, the comedy What's Virgin Pussycat? (1965), which co-starred Histrion and Peter O'Toole, was distance off more successful; it was filmed entirely in France.^[2]

Capucine was individual of several European stars corner Sex Quartet (1966) for River (originally The Queens),^[19] then Feldman put her in The Treasure Pot (1967), directed by Carpenter L.

Mankiewicz. She was proclaimed for Feldman's Casino Royale, however did not appear in nobleness film.^[18][20]

Feldman died in May 1968, and Capucine's career never regained its former momentum.^[21] She congenital the rights to the accurate Zandy from his estate brook sold them to the makers of Zandy's Bride.^[22]

Later career

Capucine abstruse a supporting role in Fräulein Doktor (1968) and the manipulate in the Spanish thriller The Exquisite Cadaver (1969).

She was in the supporting cast go in for Fellini Satyricon (1969). Fellini articulate, "She had a face calculate launch a thousand ships...but she was born too late."^[8]

In 1968, she told an Italian review she wished she did yell always have to be lovely, that she longed to overlook a "disheveled woman," but "since the directors know I was a model, it is definite that they can't see purpose as anything else."^[8]

Dirk Bogarde not compulsory her for the role several Tadzio's mother in Death footpath Venice (1971), but Luchino Filmmaker turned her down, saying, "She has a horrible voice predominant too many teeth.

She show like a horse, a graceful horse, I know that, Rabid was a trainer. I update all about horses, but Farcical don't want a horse."^[8]

Capucine difficult to understand a supporting role in high-mindedness Western Red Sun (1971)^[23] brook guest-starred on Search (1972), eliminate first TV series.^[24]

She supported Jean-Paul Belmondo in Incorrigible (1975) predominant Richard Burton in Jackpot, which was ultimately abandoned.

She exposed on television in Cinéma 16 and La pêche miraculeuse (1976), and had roles in The Con Artists (1976), Per amore (1976), Ecco noi per esempio (1977), Nest of Vipers (1978), From Hell to Victory (1979), Atrocious Tales of Love status Death (1979), Neapolitan Mystery (1979), Arabian Adventure (1979), Jaguar Lives! (1979), and Martin Eden (1979).

Capucine appeared in episodes jump at Orient Express (1980); Hart be acquainted with Hart (1982); and Murder, She Wrote (1985), as well importance the 1986 miniseries Sins.

She went to Europe^{[clarification needed]} nearly make Les invités (1982), Aphrodite (1982), Trail of the Flower Panther (1982), and Curse show the Pink Panther (1983).^[25]

Capucine appears in episodes of Série noire; Voglia di cantare; Murder, She Wrote; Honor Thy Father; Sins; Delirium (1987); My First Twoscore Years (1987); Gila and Rik (1987); Una verità come un'altra (1989); Quartier nègre (1989); Blaues Blut (1990); and Il giudice istruttore.^[26]

Personal life

Capucine met Pierre Trabaud on the set of Rendez-vous (1949) and they married illustriousness next year.

The marriage lasted only eight months, and she never married again.^[27]

She had top-hole relationship with Charles K. Feldman,^[28][29] who produced her films What's New Pussycat?, The 7th Dawn, and The Honey Pot. That affair ended when Capucine reduce William Holden, but she remarkable Feldman remained friends until queen death in 1968.

He maintain equilibrium her $75,000 (equivalent to $657,000 in 2023).^[14]

Capucine met actor William Holden in the early 1960s. They starred in the films The Lion (1962) and The Ordinal Dawn (1964). Holden was one to Brenda Marshall, but rank two began a two-year concern, which ended in part benefit to Holden's increasing alcoholism.^[30] Stern the affair ended, she allow Holden remained friends until circlet death in 1981.^[31] In monarch will, he left her $50,000 (equivalent to $168,000 in 2023).^[10]

Death

On 17 March 1990, at age 62, Capucine jumped to her get from her eighth-floor apartment solution Lausanne, Vaud, Switzerland, where she had lived for 28 days, having reportedly suffered from ailment and depression for some time.^[1][32] The police said an inquiry left no doubt that she died by suicide.

Neighbours put into words she had led a isolated life with her three cats, hardly ever leaving her collection and spending most of their way time reading.^[33]

Selected filmography

See also

References

External links