Person Biography:
Michèle Mercier, born Jocelyne Yvonne Renée on January 1, 1939, in Nice, France, was a renowned French actress. She initially wanted to be a dancer and grew up to become a soloist in the Opera of Nice. Mercier then pursued a career in dramatic art, attending classes taught by Solange Sicard. She made her debut in French cinema, adopting the stage name Michèle, which belonged to her younger sister who passed away at the age of five.
Mercier's breakthrough role came in 1963 when she played the title character in the film "Angélique," catapulting her to almost instant stardom. However, this role also typecast her, making it difficult for her to escape the character's image. To revive her career, Mercier left France and attempted to restart her career in the United States, but unfortunately, she failed to achieve success.
Throughout her life, Mercier was known for her beauty, kindness, and her tumultuous relationships with men. She was deceived, betrayed, and suffered at the hands of her partners, including a husband who turned out to be an alcoholic and a prince who refused to marry her. Despite her numerous failures, Mercier continued to act, making a comeback in 1998 with the film "La Rumbera" and later presenting her second book of memoirs at the Cannes Film Festival in 2002.
In her book, Mercier confessed her irritation with the glamour-image of the Sixties and her desire to be seen as more than just the character of Angélique. She also shared stories about her relationships with famous actors, including Vittorio Gassman, Marcello Mastroianni, and Bettino Craxi, and former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi. Mercier's life was marked by struggles and setbacks, but she continued to act and share her story, ultimately finding a way to reconcile her past and present.
