Danielle Darrieux
A paragon of Parisian elegance and wit, her career spanned nine decades, defining the image of the sophisticated French woman on screen.
1917–2017 (age 100)·French actress and singer·Birthday: May 1·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Danielle Darrieux was not just an actress; she was an embodiment of a certain French spirit—chic, intelligent, and resilient. Discovered as a teenager, she became a star in the 1930s, her luminous presence and crystalline singing voice gracing musical comedies and dramas. Her career, and life, navigated profound historical currents. She continued to work during the German occupation of France, a decision that later sparked controversy, though she was never formally charged. Post-war, she masterfully reinvented herself, moving from ingénue to sophisticated, often ironic, mature roles in films like Jacques Demy's 'The Umbrellas of Cherbourg' and Max Ophüls' 'The Earrings of Madame de...'. On stage, she was a formidable presence in the works of playwrights like Françoise Sagan. Darrieux worked relentlessly, her final film role coming at age 93, leaving behind a filmography that serves as a mirror to a century of French culture.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Danielle was born in 1917, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Danielle Was Born
The biggest hits of 1917
#1 Movie
Cleopatra
Danielle's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1917Born
Russian Revolution overthrows the tsar; US enters WWI
President: Woodrow Wilson
1922Started school
King Tut's tomb discovered in Egypt
President: Warren G. Harding"April Showers" — Al Jolson
1930Became a teenager
Pluto discovered
Gas: $0.20/galHome: $3,510President: Herbert Hoover"Body and Soul" — Paul WhitemanBest Picture: All Quiet on the Western Front
1933Could drive
FDR's New Deal launches; Prohibition ends
Gas: $0.18/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Stormy Weather" — Ethel WatersBest Picture: Cavalcade
1935Could vote
Social Security Act signed into law
Gas: $0.19/galHome: $3,450President: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Cheek to Cheek" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: Mutiny on the Bounty
1938Turned 21
Kristallnacht and the escalation toward WWII
Gas: $0.20/galHome: $2,850Min wage: $0.25/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Begin the Beguine" — Artie ShawBest Picture: You Can't Take It with You
1947Turned 30
India gains independence; the Dead Sea Scrolls found
Gas: $0.23/galHome: $6,600Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Near You" — Francis CraigBest Picture: Gentleman's Agreement
1957Turned 40
Sputnik launches the Space Age
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $10,550Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"All Shook Up" — Elvis PresleyBest Picture: The Bridge on the River Kwai
1967Turned 50
Summer of Love in San Francisco; first Super Bowl
Gas: $0.33/galHome: $14,250Min wage: $1.40/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"To Sir, with Love" — LuluBest Picture: In the Heat of the Night
1977Turned 60
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1987Turned 70
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1997Turned 80
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2017Died at 100
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
Key Achievements
- Starred in Max Ophüls' classic 'The Earrings of Madame de...' (1953), delivering a defining performance of nuanced elegance.
- Appeared in Jacques Demy's iconic musical 'The Umbrellas of Cherbourg' (1964), contributing to its lasting international success.
- Maintained a leading career in French cinema for over eight decades, from the early 1930s into the 2010s.
- Received a lifetime achievement César Award in 1985 and was named a Commander of the Legion of Honour.
Did You Know?
She was originally cast as the mother in 'The Umbrellas of Cherbourg' but suggested the younger Anne Vernon for the role, taking the part of the aunt instead.
She was an accomplished cellist and performed on screen in the 1939 film 'Battement de coeur'.
Her first husband, director Henri Decoin, insisted she give up the cello to focus on acting.
At age 94, she performed a one-woman stage show, 'From Sarah Bernhardt to… Danielle Darrieux', in Paris.
“I have always worked. Work is not a burden for me, it is my life.”
