Elvira Popescu was a renowned Romanian-French stage and film actress, as well as a theatre director. Born on May 10, 1894, in Bucharest, Romania, she began her career in the world of theatre at a young age.
Popescu's early life was marked by her passion for drama, which she studied at the Music and Drama Conservatory in her native city under the guidance of Constantin Nottara and Aristizza Romanescu. She made her debut at the National Theatre Bucharest at the age of 16 and went on to play the lead role in the 1912 film "Independența României," directed by Aristide Demetriade.
In 1919, Popescu became the artistic director of the Excelsior Theatre, a position she held until 1921, when she founded Teatrul Mic, which she managed alongside the Excelsior. Her career in film began in the 1920s, with roles in "Ţigăncuşa de la iatac" (1923) and "Ma Cousine de Varsovie" (1923),under the direction of Louis Verneuil.
Popescu's move to Paris in 1924 marked a significant turning point in her career, as she went on to work with some of the most prominent playwrights and directors of the time. She played leading roles in "Tovaritch" (1933),"La Machine infernale" (1954),"Nina" (1949),and "La Mamma" (1957),among many others.
In addition to her work in theatre and film, Popescu was also a talented director, having directed the Théâtre de Paris from 1956 to 1965 and the Théâtre Marigny from 1965 to 1978. Even in her later years, Popescu remained active in the world of theatre, playing the role of "La Mamma" at the age of 84.
Throughout her long and illustrious career, Popescu appeared in numerous films, including "La Présidente" (1938),"Tricoche et Cacolet" (1938),"Ils étaient neuf célibataires" (1939),"Paradis perdu" (1940),"Austerlitz" (1960),and "Purple Noon" (1960).
Popescu was married three times, first to comedian Aurel Athanasescu, with whom she had a daughter named Tatiana, then to Ion Manolescu-Strunga, Minister of Industry and Commerce, and finally to Count Maximilien Sébastien Foy. She passed away on December 11, 1993, at the age of 99, and was interred at Père Lachaise Cemetery in Paris.
