Maria Schneider was a renowned French actress, catapulted to stardom at the tender age of 19 with her iconic roles in Bernardo Bertolucci's cinematic masterpiece, Last Tango in Paris (1972),and Michelangelo Antonioni's thought-provoking film, The Passenger (1975).
As a teenager, Schneider was an ardent film enthusiast, frequenting the cinema up to four times a week. However, her passion for acting was met with a tumultuous home life, leading her to leave her family at the age of 15 following a heated argument with her mother. She subsequently made her stage acting debut in Paris that same year.
Schneider's entry into the world of cinema was marked by an uncredited role in The Christmas Tree (1969). Her breakthrough performance came with Last Tango in Paris, which featured several nude scenes. Following the film's release, Schneider made the conscious decision to never work nude again.
In 1976, Schneider abruptly abandoned the set of Caligula (1979),citing creative differences, and was subsequently replaced by Teresa Ann Savoy. Despite this tumultuous period, Schneider maintained a lifelong friendship with the esteemed actor Marlon Brando until his passing.
Sadly, Maria Schneider succumbed to breast cancer on February 3, 2011, at the age of 58, leaving behind a legacy as a talented and trailblazing actress in the world of cinema.
