An unfaithful wife, a teacher in love, a saleswoman floating in the clouds - there is no such role that Stefan Audran could not convincingly play. The talented actress gained fame thanks to the films of ex-spouse Claude Chabrol, for whom she became a muse for many years. By the age of 85, this amazing woman managed to appear in more than a hundred film and television projects. What is the history of the Frenchwoman?
Stefan Audran: The Beginning
The Muse of Claude Chabrol was born in Versailles, it happened in November 1932. The real name of the star is Colette Susanne Dashville. Stefan Audran is the creative pseudonym by which she became famous. Unfortunately, there is practically no information about the first years of her life. We only know that in childhood Stefan began to dream of an acting profession.
At the beginning of her journey, Audran could not have imagined that her destiny was destined to become a star. She had problems with speech, she did not move well. Beginning actress was lucky with teachers. She took acting lessons from Michelle Vitold, Rene Simon, Charles Dullen, Tanya Balashova.
First roles
On the set, Stefan Audran first got in 1957. The debut for the novice actress was the painting "Night Game" by Daniel Costel. Then she lit up in the black and white drama "Lovers of Montparnasse" by Jacques Becker. The role of Stefan got so insignificant that her name did not even fall into the credits. The fleeting participation in the film “Healing Broth” did not help the girl to become famous.
It is difficult to imagine how Audran would have lived if not for her acquaintance with the director Claude Chabrol. In 1959, the master offered her a supporting role in his new film “Cousins”. In this film, the director mercilessly ridicules the bourgeois. The picture was a success with the audience, and Stefan got the first fans.
Claude Chabrol films
Actress Stefan Audran gained fame thanks to the films of Claude Chabrol, who became her second husband. In total, she starred in more than twenty films by the master. In the detective drama Cuties, Audran brilliantly performed one of the key roles. Her character was a saleswoman hovering in the clouds, whose life is rapidly changing thanks to her acquaintance with a mysterious brunette.
A striking role was assigned to Stefan in the crime drama Landry. She embodied the image of the girlfriend of the famous serial killer. In the film "Lani" her heroine was a lesbian, belonging to the wealthy bourgeois. In "The Wrong Wife," Audran convincingly played a lady cheating on her husband. The same role went to her in the film "Bloody debauchery." Noteworthy is the tape “The Butcher”, in which the Frenchwoman portrayed a teacher suffering from secret love.
The psychological thriller Betty is the last collaboration between Chabrol and his muse. The picture tells the story of a woman named Betty. She is beautiful, confident and ... absolutely unhappy. Boredom forces Betty to constantly commit stupid and even dangerous acts, to put herself at risk.
Audran and Bunuel
It is interesting that Stefan did not play her most famous role in the film by Claude Chabrol. The aristocratic and cold beauty of Audran, her talent made an indelible impression on the director Luis Bunuel. The master wished that it was this actress who played one of the main roles in his comedy drama "The Modest Charm of the Bourgeoisie."
The picture is a surreal sketch of the daily life of the bourgeois. The main characters think mainly about food. However, day after day, circumstances arise that prevent them from fully enjoying the meal.
The tape "The Modest Charm of the Bourgeoisie" was an extraordinary success with the audience, and also won the Oscar. Of course, this had a positive effect on Stefan's popularity.
New century
Unfortunately, in the new century, a talented actress became less likely to act in films. Stefan Audran films released during this period are listed below.
- "The picnic of Lulu Kretz."
- “Speaking of Bunuel.”
- "Blue Bicycle" (mini-series).
- "I want to eat".
- "My wife's name is Maurice."
- "Sisi is the rebellious empress."
- "Girl from Monaco."
In 2018, the drama “The Other Side of the Wind” is expected to be co-produced by France and Iran. It is known that Stefan took part in the work on this picture. There is no information on further creative plans of the famous Frenchwoman.
Personal life
How was Stefan Audran's personal life? The talented actress entered into a legal marriage twice. Her first choice was a colleague, Jean-Louis Trentignan. She met this man while studying at acting courses. Jean-Louis was remembered by the audience for the films “Man and Woman”, “Magnificent Angelica”, “Conformist”, “Overtaking”. The marriage of the actors did not last long, they parted by mutual agreement, having managed to maintain friendly relations.
The second husband Audran was the director Claude Chabrol. In 1963, the actress gave the wife a son, the boy was named Tom. The son went in the maternal footsteps, also became an actor. You can see him in the films "Hell", "Women's Business", "Gregory Mulin Against Humanity", in the series "Sex and the City."