Simone Signoret

Date of Birth: March 25, 1921

Zodiac Sign: Aries

Date of Death: September 30, 1985

Biography

Simone Signoret, born Simone Henriette Charlotte Kaminker, was one of the most renowned French actresses of the 20th century. She was born on March 25, 1921, in Wiesbaden, Germany, to André and Georgette Kaminker. Her father was a linguist and translator of Polish Jewish descent, and her mother was a French Catholic. The family moved to France when Simone was still a child, and she grew up in Paris. Signoret began her career in acting in the 1940s, initially taking small roles in French films. Her breakthrough came with the film “Dédée d’Anvers” (1948), and she went on to star in critically acclaimed movies such as “La Ronde” (1950), “Casque d’Or” (1952), and “Les Diaboliques” (1955). In 1959, she won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in “Room at the Top,” making her the first French actress to win an Oscar. Throughout her career, Signoret was known for her powerful performances and her ability to portray complex, strong-willed women. She married filmmaker Yves Allégret in 1944, and they had one daughter, Catherine Allégret. The marriage ended in divorce, and in 1951, she married the famous French singer and actor Yves Montand, with whom she remained until her death. Simone Signoret passed away on September 30, 1985, in Auteuil-Anthouillet, France, leaving behind a legacy of exceptional film performances and an indelible mark on the world of cinema.

5 Interesting Facts about Simone Signoret

1. Simone Signoret was the first French actress to win an Academy Award.

2. She was a staunch political activist and frequently spoke out against fascism and totalitarian regimes.

3. Signoret wrote an autobiography titled “Nostalgia Isn’t What It Used To Be,” which was published in 1976.

4. She continued to act in films and on stage even after winning an Academy Award, refusing to be typecast.

5. Simone Signoret and her husband Yves Montand were close friends with famous intellectuals like Jean-Paul Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Simone Signoret

1. “Chains do not hold a marriage together. It is threads, hundreds of tiny threads which sew people together through the years.”

2. “Nostalgia is not what it used to be.”

3. “I got old the way that women who aren’t actresses grow old.”

4. “If Marilyn is in love with my husband it proves she has good taste, for I am in love with him too.”

5. “I have often thought that I am the most complete woman ever to have existed.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

At the height of her career, Simone Signoret’s net worth was estimated to be around $10 million.

Children

Simone Signoret had one daughter, Catherine Allégret, born on April 16, 1946, from her marriage to filmmaker Yves Allégret. Catherine Allégret followed in her mother’s footsteps and became an actress.