Elvire Popesco
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Elvira Popescu (; in
French French may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to France ** French language, which originated in France ** French people, a nation and ethnic group ** French cuisine, cooking traditions and practices Arts and media * The French (band), ...
, Elvire Popesco; 10 May 1894 – 11 December 1993) was a
Romanian Romanian may refer to: *anything of, from, or related to the country and nation of Romania **Romanians, an ethnic group **Romanian language, a Romance language ***Romanian dialects, variants of the Romanian language **Romanian cuisine, traditional ...
-
French French may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to France ** French language, which originated in France ** French people, a nation and ethnic group ** French cuisine, cooking traditions and practices Arts and media * The French (band), ...
stage and film
actress An actor (masculine/gender-neutral), or actress (feminine), is a person who portrays a character in a production. The actor performs "in the flesh" in the traditional medium of the theatre or in modern media such as film, radio, and television. ...
and
theatre director A theatre director or stage director is a professional in the theatre field who oversees and orchestrates the mounting of a theatre production such as a play, opera, dance, drama, musical theatre performance, etc. by unifying various endeavors a ...
. During the 1930s and 1940s, she starred in a number of French comedy films.


Life and career

Popescu was born in
Bucharest Bucharest ( , ; ) is the capital and largest city of Romania. The metropolis stands on the River Dâmbovița (river), Dâmbovița in south-eastern Romania. Its population is officially estimated at 1.76 million residents within a greater Buc ...
, and studied drama at the Music and Drama Conservatory in her native city, under the guidance of
Constantin Nottara Constantin I. Nottara (June 5, 1859–October 16/17, 1935) was a Romanian stage actor and director. Born in Bucharest into a middle-class family of Byzantine Greek origin, he attended a private school from 1866 to 1870, followed by Saint Sav ...
and
Aristizza Romanescu Aristizza Romanescu (December 24, 1854, Craiova – June 4, 1918, Iași) was a Romanian stage actress, active 1872–1918.George Marcu (coord.), Dicţionarul personalităţilor feminine din România, Editura Meronia, București, 2009. Life In 191 ...
. In 1911 was making the first Romanian films to deal with fiction. He employed Popesco as well as other leading actors like Nottara and Romanescu. The first two films were called "Fatal Love" and "Spin a Yarn". No copies are known of these films. Popesco made her debut at the
National Theatre Bucharest The National Theatre Bucharest () is one of the national theatres of Romania, located in the capital city of Bucharest. Founding It was founded as the ''Teatrul cel Mare din București'' ("Grand Theatre of Bucharest") in 1852, its first director ...
at age 16.Mari Români In 1912, she played herself in the movie ''Independența României'', directed by . In 1919 she became artistic director of the Excelsior Theatre.Ciobanu In 1921, Popescu started Teatrul Mic, which she managed in parallel with the Excelsior. In 1923, she starred in the movie ''Țigăncușa de la iatac'', directed by
Alfred Halm Alfred Halm (born Alfred Hahn; 9 December 1861 – 5 February 1951) was an Austrian screenwriter and film director. He was the father of the actor Harry Halm, who being a Jew after the Nazis seized power in 1933, could not take part in further fil ...
. At the urging of
Louis Verneuil Louis Jacques Marie Collin du Bocage (14 May 1893 – 3 November 1952), better known by the pen name Louis Verneuil, was a French playwright, screenwriter, and actor. Biography Born in Paris, Verneuil wrote approximately sixty plays and was b ...
, the French playwright, Popescu moved in 1924 to
Paris Paris () is the Capital city, capital and List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, largest city of France. With an estimated population of 2,048,472 residents in January 2025 in an area of more than , Paris is the List of ci ...
. Under Verneuil's direction, she played the leading role in ''Ma Cousine de Varsovie'', at the Théâtre Michel (1923). She also played in ''Tovaritch'' (1933), ''La Machine infernale'' (1954), ''Nina'' (1949), and ''La Mamma'' (1957). Later on, she was director of Théâtre de Paris (1956–1965), and
Théâtre Marigny The Théâtre Marigny () is a theatre in Paris, situated near the junction of the Champs-Élysées and the Avenue Marigny in the 8th arrondissement of Paris, 8th arrondissement. It was originally built to designs of the architect Charles Garnie ...
(1965–1978). At age 84, she played again in ''La Mamma''. Elvira Popescu also played in movies, such as ''La Présidente'' (Fernand Rivers, 1938), ''Tricoche et Cacolet'' (Pierre Colombier, 1938), ''Ils étaient neuf célibataires'' (
Sacha Guitry Alexandre-Pierre Georges "Sacha" Guitry (; 21 February 188524 July 1957) was a French stage actor, film actor, director, screenwriter, and playwright of the boulevard theatre (aesthetic), boulevard theatre. He was the son of a leading French ac ...
, 1939), ''Paradis perdu'' (
Abel Gance Abel Gance (; born Abel Eugène Alexandre Péréthon; 25 October 188910 November 1981) was a French film director, producer, writer and actor. A pioneer in the theory and practice of montage, he is best known for three major silent films: ''J'ac ...
, 1940), '' Austerlitz'' (Abel Gance, 1960), and ''
Purple Noon ''Purple Noon'' (; ; also known as ''Full Sun'', ''Blazing Sun'', ''Lust for Evil'', and ''Talented Mr. Ripley'') is a 1960 crime thriller film starring Alain Delon (in his first major role), alongside Marie Laforêt and Maurice Ronet; Romy Schn ...
'' (
René Clément René Clément (; 18 March 1913 – 17 March 1996) was a French film director and screenwriter. He is known for directing the films ''The Battle of the Rails'' (1946), ''Forbidden Games'' (1952), ''Gervaise (film), Gervaise'' (1956), ''Purple No ...
, 1960).


Personal life

Shortly after her debut in 1910, Popescu married comedian Aurel Athanasescu and they had a daughter named Tatiana. After a few years, she divorced, and married
Ion Manolescu-Strunga Ion N. Manolescu-Strunga (12 May 1889 in Strunga, Iași County, Romania – 19 April 1951 in Sighetu Marmației, Romania) was a Romanian liberal politician. He studied economics in Vienna and afterwards obtained his doctor's degree at the Univers ...
, Minister of Industry and Commerce (who was to die in
Sighet Prison The Sighet Prison, located in the city of Sighetu Marmației, Maramureș County, Romania, was used by Romania to hold criminals, prisoners of war, and political prisoners. It is now the site of the Sighet Memorial Museum, part of the Memorial ...
in the 1950s). Her third husband was Count Maximilien Sébastien Foy (born in Paris on 17 April 1900, died in
Neuilly-sur-Seine Neuilly-sur-Seine (; 'Neuilly-on-Seine'), also known simply as Neuilly, is an urban Communes of France, commune in the Hauts-de-Seine Departments of France, department just west of Paris in France. Immediately adjacent to the city, north of the ...
on 11 November 1967)."Families of Jules and Théodore Porgès" She died in Paris at age 99, and was interred at
Père Lachaise Cemetery Père Lachaise Cemetery (, , formerly , ) is the largest cemetery in Paris, France, at . With more than 3.5 million visitors annually, it is the most visited necropolis in the world. Buried at Père Lachaise are many famous figures in the ...
.


Honours

*In 1987, Elvira Popescu received the first honorary
Molière Award The Les Molière is the national theatre award of France and it recognises achievement of French theatre each year. The awards are considered the highest honour for productions and performances. Presided and decided by the ''Association profess ...
for career achievements. *In 1989,
President President most commonly refers to: *President (corporate title) * President (education), a leader of a college or university *President (government title) President may also refer to: Arts and entertainment Film and television *'' Præsident ...
François Mitterrand François Maurice Adrien Marie Mitterrand (26 October 19168 January 1996) was a French politician and statesman who served as President of France from 1981 to 1995, the longest holder of that position in the history of France. As a former First ...
conferred upon her the
Légion d’honneur The National Order of the Legion of Honour ( ), formerly the Imperial Order of the Legion of Honour (), is the highest and most prestigious French national order of merit, both military and Civil society, civil. Currently consisting of five cl ...
.


Legacy

* While married to Manolescu-Strunga, she lived in a house not far from the
University of Bucharest The University of Bucharest (UB) () is a public university, public research university in Bucharest, Romania. It was founded in its current form on by a decree of Prince Alexandru Ioan Cuza to convert the former Princely Academy of Bucharest, P ...
. The house, built on a lot, has 22 rooms, spread over of living area; it was put on the market in 2005 for about 2 million
Euro The euro (currency symbol, symbol: euro sign, €; ISO 4217, currency code: EUR) is the official currency of 20 of the Member state of the European Union, member states of the European Union. This group of states is officially known as the ...
s. * From 1930 to 1985, Elvira Popescu lived in a villa in
Mézy-sur-Seine Mézy-sur-Seine (, literally ''Mézy on Seine'') is a commune in the Yvelines department in the Île-de-France region in north-central France. Population See also *Communes of the Yvelines department A commune is an alternative term for an i ...
,
Yvelines Yvelines () is a department in the western part of the Île-de-France region in Northern France. In 2019, it had a population of 1,448,207.fashion designer Fashion design is the Art (skill), art of applied arts, applying design, aesthetics, clothing construction, and natural beauty to clothing and its Fashion accessory, accessories. It is influenced by diverse cultures and different trends and has va ...
Paul Poiret Paul Poiret (20 April 1879 – 30 April 1944) was a French fashion designer, a master couturier during the first two decades of the 20th century. He was the founder of his namesake haute couture house. Early life and career Poiret was bor ...
, and remodelled in 1932 by architect Paul Boyer, was declared a historic monument in 1984, but it has since decayed. Bought for 1.8 million
French franc The franc (; , ; currency sign, sign: F or Fr), also commonly distinguished as the (FF), was a currency of France. Between 1360 and 1641, it was the name of coins worth 1 livre tournois and it remained in common parlance as a term for this amoun ...
s in 1999, it is open occasionally to the public. * Together with
Elena Văcărescu Elena Văcărescu, or Hélène Vacaresco (September 21, 1864 in Bucharest – February 17, 1947 in Paris), was a Romanian- French aristocrat writer, twice a laureate of the Académie Française. Life Through her father, Ioan Văcărescu, she d ...
,
Anna de Noailles Anna, Comtesse Mathieu de Noailles (Anna Elisabeth Bibesco-Bassaraba de Brancovan; ; 15 November 1876 – 30 April 1933) was a French writer of Romanian, Greek and Bulgarian descent, a poet and a socialist feminist. She was the only female poet ...
, and
Marthe Bibesco Princess Martha Bibescu (Martha Lucia; ''née'' Lahovary; 28 January 1886 – 28 November 1973), also known outside of Romania as Marthe Bibesco, was a Romanian-French writer, socialite, style icon and political hostess. She spent her childhood ...
, Elvira Popescu is considered to be the inspiration for
Henri Matisse Henri Émile Benoît Matisse (; 31 December 1869 – 3 November 1954) was a French visual arts, visual artist, known for both his use of colour and his fluid and original draughtsmanship. He was a drawing, draughtsman, printmaking, printmaker, ...
's painting, ''La Blouse Roumaine'' (1940).


Partial filmography

* ''
The Independence of Romania ''The'' is a grammatical article in English, denoting nouns that are already or about to be mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The ...
'' (1912) - Țăranca * '' Țigăncușa dela iatac'' (1923) - Maria Tortusanu -Basil's fiancée * '' The Foreigner'' (1931) - Dora Clarkson * ''
My Cousin from Warsaw My or MY may refer to: Arts and entertainment * My (radio station), a Malaysian radio station * Little My, a fictional character in the Moomins universe * ''My'' (album), by Edyta Górniak * ''My'' (EP), by Cho Mi-yeon Business * Marke ...
'' (1931) - Sonia Varilovna * ''
His Best Client ''His Best Client'' (French: ''Sa meilleure cliente'') is a 1932 French comedy film directed by Pierre Colombier and starring Elvire Popesco, René Lefèvre and Hélène Robert.The A to Z of French Cinema p.358 The film's sets were designed by ...
'' (1932) - Edwige * ''
Une femme chipée Une is a municipality and town of Colombia in the Eastern Province, part of the department of Cundinamarca. The urban centre is located at an altitude of at a distance of from the capital Bogotá. The municipality borders Chipaque in the nor ...
'' (1934) - Hélène Larsonnier * '' Dora Nelson'' (1935) - Dora Nelson et Suzanne Verdier * ''
The Lover of Madame Vidal ''The Lover of Madame Vidal'' (French: ''L'amant de Madame Vidal'') is a 1936 French comedy film directed by André Berthomieu and starring Elvire Popesco, Victor Boucher and Jacques Louvigny.Goble p.669 It was based on a 1928 play of the same ...
'' (1936) - Catherine Vidal * '' The King'' (1936) - Thérèse Marnix - une actrice célèbre * ''
The Man of the Hour ''The Man of the Hour'' (French: ''L'homme du jour'') is a 1937 French musical film directed by Julien Duvivier and starring Maurice Chevalier, Elvire Popesco and Josette Day.Mazdon & Wheatley p.35 The film was shot at the Joinville Studios, wit ...
'' (1937) - Mona Thalia * '' The House Opposite'' (1937) - Madame Anna * ''
The Club of Aristocrats ''The Club of Aristocrats'' (French: ''Le club des aristocrates'') is a 1937 French comedy film directed by Pierre Colombier and starring Jules Berry, Elvire Popesco and André Lefaur.Parish p.482 The film's sets were designed by the art director ...
'' (1937) - La comtesse Irène Waldapowska * ''
The Green Jacket ''The Green Jacket'' (French: ''L'habit vert'') is a 1937 French comedy film directed by Roger Richebé and starring Elvire Popesco, Victor Boucher and Jules Berry. It is based on a play by Gaston Arman de Caillavet and Robert de Flers.Forman ...
'' (1937) - La duchesse de Maulévrier * ''
In Venice, One Night ''In Venice, One Night'' (French: ''À Venise, une nuit'') is a 1937 French comedy film directed by Christian-Jaque and starring Albert Préjean, Elvire Popesco and Roger Karl.Crisp p.409 It was made at the Cité Elgé studios in Paris. The film's ...
'' (1937) - Nadia Mortal * '' The President'' (1938) - Vérotcha * ''
Tricoche and Cacolet ''Tricoche and Cacolet'' (French: ''Tricoche et Cacolet'') is a 1938 French comedy film directed by Pierre Colombier and starring Fernandel, Frédéric Duvallès and Ginette Leclerc.Ginibre, Lithgow & Cady p.97 It is based on an 1872 play of t ...
'' (1938) - Bernardine Van der Pouf * ''
Education of a Prince ''Education of a Prince'' (French: ''Éducation de Prince'') is a 1927 French silent comedy film directed by Henri Diamant-Berger and starring Edna Purviance, Pierre Batcheff and Flora le Breton. Powrie & Rebillard p.8 It was adapted by Henri ...
'' (1938) - La reine de Silistrie * '' My Priest Among the Rich'' (1938) - Lisette Cousinet * ''
Deputy Eusèbe ''Deputy Eusèbe'' (French: ''Eusèbe député'') is a 1939 French comedy film directed by André Berthomieu and starring Michel Simon, Elvire Popesco and Jules Berry.Bessy & Chirat p.429 The film's sets were designed by the art director Robert ...
'' (1939) - Mariska * ''
The Fatted Calf ''The Fatted Calf'' (French: ''Le veau gras'') is a 1939 French comedy film directed by Serge de Poligny and starring Elvire Popesco, André Lefaur and Armand Bernard.Oscherwitz & Higgins p.353 It is based on a play by Bernard Zimmer. The film's ...
'' (1939) - Madame Rameau * ''
Sacred Woods ''Sacred Woods'' (French:'' Le bois sacré'') is a 1939 French comedy film directed by Léon Mathot and starring Elvire Popesco, Gaby Morlay and Victor Boucher.Oscherwitz & Higgins p.113 It was based on a play by Robert de Flers and Gaston Ar ...
'' (1939) - La princesse Dorothée * ''
Nine Bachelors ''Nine Bachelors'' (French: ''Ils étaient neuf célibataires'') is a 1939 Cinema of France, French comedy film directed by Sacha Guitry and starring Guitry, Max Dearly and Elvire Popesco. It was shot at the Joinville Studios in Paris and locati ...
'' (1939) - Comtesse Stacia Batchefskaïa * ''
Behind the Facade ''Behind the Facade'' (French: ''Derrière la façade'') is a 1939 French drama film directed by Georges Lacombe and Yves Mirande and starring Lucien Baroux, Jules Berry and André Lefaur.Aitken p.511 The film's sets were designed by the art dire ...
'' (1939) - Francine Margerie * ''
Paradise Lost ''Paradise Lost'' is an Epic poetry, epic poem in blank verse by the English poet John Milton (1608–1674). The poem concerns the Bible, biblical story of the fall of man: the temptation of Adam and Eve by the fallen angel Satan and their ex ...
'' (1940) - Sonia Vorochine * ''
The Mondesir Heir ''The Mondesir Heir'' (French: ''L'héritier des Mondésir'') is a 1940 French-German comedy film directed by Albert Valentin and starring Fernandel, Elvire Popesco and Jules Berry. It was shot in Berlin by the German studio UFA in a co-producti ...
'' (1940) - Erika Axelos * '' Parade en 7 nuits'' (1941) - Madame Fanny * ''
The Master Valet ''The Master Valet'' (French: ''Le valet maître'') is a 1941 French comedy film directed by Paul Mesnier and starring Elvire Popesco, Henri Garat and Marguerite Deval.Siclier p.178 It was based on the 1938 play of the same title by Paul Armo ...
'' (1941) - Antonia - une effervescente étrangère * '' The Golden Age'' (1942) - Véra Termutzki * ''
Mademoiselle Swing ''Mademoiselle Swing'' is a 1942 French musical film directed by Richard Pottier and starring Irène de Trebert, Jean Murat and Raymond Legrand.Zwerin p.149 It was shot at the It was shot at the Photosonor Studios in Paris. The film's sets were d ...
'' (1942) - Sofia de Vinci * '' The Blue Veil'' (1942) - Mona Lorenza * '' Frederica'' (1942) - Frédérica * '' Madly in Love'' (1943) - Arabella * ''
Purple Noon ''Purple Noon'' (; ; also known as ''Full Sun'', ''Blazing Sun'', ''Lust for Evil'', and ''Talented Mr. Ripley'') is a 1960 crime thriller film starring Alain Delon (in his first major role), alongside Marie Laforêt and Maurice Ronet; Romy Schn ...
'' (1960) - Mrs. Popova * '' Austerlitz'' (1960) - Laetitia Bonaparte


Notes


References

* Dana Ciobanu
"Sinucidere pentru Elvira Popescu"
''
Jurnalul Național ''Jurnalul Național'' is a Romanian newspaper, part of the INTACT Media Group led by Dan Voiculescu, which also includes the popular television station Antena 1. The newspaper was launched in 1993. Its headquarters is in Bucharest Buchares ...
'', March 1, 2004 * Constantin Roman
"Blouse Roumaine"
2001–2002 *
"Elvira Popescu"
at '' Mari Români''
"Families of Jules and Théodore Porgès"
*
"Elvire Popesco"
at CinéArtistes * Lucian Pop
"Conace boierești pentru cei care vor să se simtă moşieri"
at Muse Imobiliare, July 20, 2005 *
"Marigny - Salle Popesco"
at Theatre online


External links

*

from Salons

, from Mézy-sur-Seine Municipality {{DEFAULTSORT:Popescu, Elvira 1894 births 1993 deaths French stage actresses French film actresses French theatre managers and producers Women theatre managers and producers Romanian stage actresses Romanian film actresses Romanian silent film actresses Romanian theatre managers and producers Recipients of the Legion of Honour French people of Romanian descent Actresses from Bucharest Burials at Père Lachaise Cemetery 20th-century French actresses Theatre people from Bucharest National University of Music Bucharest alumni