Person Biography:
Martine Nicholle Mourer, born Marie-Louise (Maryse) Jeanne Nicholle Mourer on May 16, 1920, was a French actress known as the "major sex siren" of the early 1950s. She predated bombshell Brigitte Bardot by a few years.
Childhood and Early Career:
Little is known about Martine's childhood. She had a chance meeting with comedian André Luguet, which led her to pursue a career in the theatre. She was trained by René Simon and made her stage debut in 1940 with the play "Phedre" billed as Maryse Arley.
Film Career:
Martine appeared in several films, including "La ferme aux loups" (1943),"Bifur 3" (1945),"L'extravagante mission" (1945),"Trente et quarante" (1946),"Voyage surprise" (1947),"Sextette" (1948),"I Love Only You" (1949),"Une nuit de noces" (1950),"Dear Caroline" (1951),"Adorable Creatures" (1952),and "Caroline Cherie" (1953).
Personal Life:
Martine was married twice, first to Stephen Crane, a former American actor-turned-restaurateur, and then to Christian-Jaque, a French director. She also had a torrid affair with actor Georges Marchal, who was married to actress Dany Robin at the time.
Later Life and Death:
Martine's career declined in the 1960s due to substance abuse and a severe accident. She made her last film in 1963 and died of cardiac arrest on February 6, 1967, at the age of 46 in the bathroom of a hotel in Monaco. Her husband discovered her body, and the cause of death was rumored to be a possible drug overdose, but nothing was ever proven.
