Meyer-Plantureux, Chantal
Madame Simone, une longue vie entre théâtre et littérature
- 2015.
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Madame Simone is one of the star actresses du “boulevard” during the first half of the 20th century. Her name is associated with the success of Bernstein’s plays, and she soon became the prototype of the “Jewish” actress: “cerebral,” “nervousness,” “hysteria,” all of the labels that were applied to Jews since Drumont and his France juive would become associated with her, in spite of the real admiration she inspired among the public and critics. Yet the theatrical career she embraced, almost by chance through her marriage to the great actor Charles Le Bargy, never gave her a real sense of satisfaction. Writing was her true passion. For almost fifty years – she passed away at 108 – she consecrated herself to literature. Member of the jury of the prix Femina, she published numerous novels and autobiographical texts.