Berthe Bovy (6 January 1887 – 26 February 1977), sometimes known as Betty Bovy, was a Belgian actress who appeared in theatre, films and television programmes for over 60 years.
Biography
Born Berthe Marguerite Jeanne Bovy, she was the daughter of poet and journalist
Théophile Bovy, she was born in
Cheratte, now part of the commune of
Visé
Visé (; , ; ) is a city and municipality of Wallonia, located on the river Meuse in the province of Liège, Belgium.
The municipality consists of the following districts: Argenteau, Cheratte, Lanaye, Lixhe, Richelle, and Visé.
In the ...
, in the
province
A province is an administrative division within a country or sovereign state, state. The term derives from the ancient Roman , which was the major territorial and administrative unit of the Roman Empire, Roman Empire's territorial possessions ou ...
of
Liège
Liège ( ; ; ; ; ) is a City status in Belgium, city and Municipalities in Belgium, municipality of Wallonia, and the capital of the Liège Province, province of Liège, Belgium. The city is situated in the valley of the Meuse, in the east o ...
. Seemingly interested in acting from an early age, an interest which her father encouraged, she enrolled in the
Koninklijk Conservatorium in Brussels following a meeting with
Sarah Bernhardt
Sarah Bernhardt (; born Henriette-Rosine Bernard; 22 October 1844 – 26 March 1923) was a French stage actress who starred in some of the most popular French plays of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, including by Alexandre Dumas fils, ...
. From 1904 to 1906 she studied at the
CNSAD in Paris. She joined the
Comédie-Française
The Comédie-Française () or Théâtre-Français () is one of the few state theatres in France. Founded in 1680, it is the oldest active theatre company in the world. Established as a French state-controlled entity in 1995, it is the only state ...
in 1907.
She was married and divorced three times, first to Charles Gribouval, secretary of the Comédie-Française, secondly with artist Ion Anton Ion-Don, and thirdly, in 1929, with Pierre Jules Louis Laudenbach, better known by his stage name
Pierre Fresnay
Pierre Fresnay (; 4 April 1897 – 9 January 1975) was a French stage and film actor.
Biography
Born Pierre Jules Louis Laudenbach, he was encouraged by his uncle, actor Claude Garry, to pursue a career in theater and film. He joined the company ...
. She died at
Montgeron in France and is buried in the city of
Liège
Liège ( ; ; ; ; ) is a City status in Belgium, city and Municipalities in Belgium, municipality of Wallonia, and the capital of the Liège Province, province of Liège, Belgium. The city is situated in the valley of the Meuse, in the east o ...
.
Filmography
*1908: ''
The Assassination of the Duke of Guise
''The Assassination of the Duke of Guise'' ( 1908) (original French title: ''La Mort du duc de Guise''; often referred to as ''L'Assassinat du duc de Guise'') is a French ''film d'art'' silent film directed by Charles le Bargy and André Calmet ...
'' (Short) - Le page
*1910: ''On ne badine pas avec l'amour'' (Short) - Camille
*1911: ''Le roman d'une pauvre fille''
*1912: ''La conquête du bonheur'' - Suzette Robert
*1913: ''Coeur de femme'' - Marie-Claire de la Salette
*1913: ''Le fils de Lagardère'' - Bathilde de Wendel
*1913: ''Le baiser suprême''
*1913: ''
Le Roman de Carpentier'' (Short)
*1921: ''
The Earth'' - La Trouille
*1938: ''Le Joueur'' - Babouchka
*1939: ''Je t'attendrai'' - Mme Marchand - La mère de Paul
*1942: ''
The Beautiful Adventure'' - Madame de Trévillac
*1945: ''
Boule de Suif'' - Madame Bonnet
*1948: ''
The Last Vacation
''The Last Vacation'' (French: ''Les dernières vacances'') is a 1948 French drama film directed by Roger Leenhardt and starring Odile Versois, Michel François (actor), Michel François, and Jean Lara.Marie p.57 It was shot at the Saint-Maurice S ...
'' - Tante Délie
*1948: ''
The Shadow
The Shadow is a fictional character created by American magazine publishers Street & Smith and writer Walter B. Gibson. Originally created to be a mysterious radio show narrator and developed into a distinct literary character in 1931 by Gibs ...
'' - Mme Fournier
*1948: ''
D'homme à hommes'' - La mère de Dunant
*1948: ''
The Cupboard Was Bare
''The Cupboard Was Bare'' (French: ''L'armoire volante'') is a 1948 French comedy crime film directed by Carlo Rim and starring Fernandel, Pauline Carton and Annette Poivre.Rège p.179 It was shot at the Boulogne Studios in Paris. The film's s ...
'' - Madame Lea Lobligeois
*1949: ''
Fantomas Against Fantomas'' - La vieille dame
*1950: ''
La Souricière'' - Mlle Germaine
*1951: ''
La Maison Bonnadieu'' - Madame Ramadin - la grand-mère
*1954: ''
On Trial'' - La grand-mère
*1956: ''
Le Secret de sœur Angèle'' - La supérieure de Paris
*1957: ''Bonjour Toubib'' - Madame Cohen
*1962: ''Mon oncle du Texas'' - La grand-mère Elisa
*1967: ''Le dimanche de la vie'' - Nanette
*1971: ''Aussi loin que l'amour'' - Une invitée (final film role)
References
* Pasleau, Suzy, ''BOVY, Berthe'', in
Éliane Gubin, Catherine Jacques, Valérie Piette & Jean Puissant (eds), ''Dictionnaire des femmes belges: XIX
e et XX
e siècles.'' Bruxelles: Éditions Racine, 2006.
External links
*
1887 births
1977 deaths
Belgian stage actresses
Belgian film actresses
Belgian silent film actresses
20th-century Belgian actresses
Sociétaires of the Comédie-Française
French National Academy of Dramatic Arts alumni
People from Visé
{{belgium-actor-stub