Mary Marquet's journey in the world of acting began at the Conservatoire, where she honed her craft and was encouraged by the illustrious Sarah Bernhardt to pursue a career on stage. Her professional debut came in the form of a performance in "La cathédrale", a play penned by the renowned dramatist Eugène Morand. However, it was her subsequent role in "L'aiglon", written by the celebrated Edmond Rostand, that truly cemented her status as a rising star.
In 1923, Mary Marquet joined the prestigious Comédie Française, where she would go on to become one of its most revered and respected actresses for over two decades. Her impressive career was marked by a string of critically acclaimed performances, and she quickly established herself as a force to be reckoned with in the French theatre scene.
However, Mary Marquet's life took a dramatic turn in 1944, when she was arrested and sent to Fresne prison, near Paris. She was accused of collaborating with the Germans during World War II, as well as being instrumental in the arrest of her own son, François, by the Gestapo. During her trial, Mary Marquet admitted to contacting the Vichy police in 1943 and asking them to prevent her son from joining the Resistance. Despite receiving a severe warning from the police, François still managed to flee to Spain, where he was arrested and deported to Buchenwald, where he tragically died in January 1944.
Mary Marquet was acquitted of her charges in January 1945, but was not permitted to return to the Comédie Française. Instead, she resumed her career on stage, appearing in a string of light comedies, or 'comédies de boulevard', as they are known in French. It would take until 1949 for her to appear on screen again, in the mediocre film "Le 84 prend des vacances".
As the years went by, Mary Marquet's appearances on stage and screen became less frequent, and she began to focus primarily on television work. She appeared in a number of TV movies and series, and her last major role came in the late 1960s.
Mary Marquet passed away in August 1979, and was laid to rest in the Montmartre cemetery. Despite the challenges and controversies she faced throughout her life, she remains one of the most beloved and respected actresses in French theatre history.
