Micheline Presle, a renowned French actress, was born in Paris to a businessman father. She began taking acting classes as a teenager and was discovered by Georg Wilhelm Pabst, who cast her in Jeunes filles en détresse in 1939. Presle adopted the last name Jacqueline, which she would later use as her stage name.
Early in her career, Presle was awarded the Prix Suzanne Bianchetti as the "most promising young actress" in French cinema. She went on to make numerous films during the Occupation, including Four Flights to Love, La comédie du bonheur, and Fantastic Night.
After the war, Presle became an important young star in French cinema, appearing in classic films such as Angel and Sinner and Devil in the Flesh. She married US actor-turned-producer William Marshall in 1949 and attempted to make it big in Hollywood.
However, none of her Hollywood films, including Under My Skin, American Guerrilla in the Philippines, and Adventures of Captain Fabian, captured the hearts of American audiences. Presle divorced Marshall in 1954 and returned to Paris with her daughter, Tonie Marshall, who would later become a successful actress and director.
Presle continued to reign supreme in European cinema, appearing in numerous films and stage productions. She remained active in the film industry until her death, appearing in films such as Donkey Skin, The Legend of Frenchie King, and Diary of a Seducer.
Throughout her career, Presle received numerous awards and nominations, including an honorary César Award in 2004. She was also nominated for a supporting actress Cesar Award for her role in the Venice Film Festival winner I Want to Go Home in 1989.
