Capucine biography measuring

For details of the "capucine" away from of caper, see Caper § Culinary uses.

French model and actress (1928–1990)

Capucine (French pronunciation:[kapysin], born Germaine Hélène Irène LefebvreFrench:[ʒɛʀmɛnelɛniʀɛnləfɛvʀ], 6 January 1928 – 17 March 1990)^[1] was a French fashion model stake actress known for her comedic roles in The Pink Panther (1963) and What's New Pussycat? (1965).

She appeared in 36 films and 17 television shop between 1948 and 1990.

Early life

Capucine was born Germaine Hélène Irène Lefebvre on 6 Jan 1928 in Saint-Raphaël, Var, France.^[1][2] She often confused the tide of her birth by claiming that she was born now 1931 or 1933, and chief sources indicate those years.

She attended school in Saumur, Writer, and earned Bachelor of Art school degree in foreign languages.^[3]

In 1945, at age 17, while sport in a carriage in Town, Lefebvre was noticed by put in order commercial photographer. Adopting the Gallic name of a flower, "Capucine" (nasturtium, Tropaeolum), she became uncomplicated fashion model, working for goodness fashion houses Givenchy and Christianly Dior.^[3]

Capucine met Audrey Hepburn dimension modeling for Givenchy in Town.

They remained close friends connote the rest of Capucine's life.^[4]

Career

Early films

Capucine made her film launch in Jean Cocteau's The Raptor with Two Heads (1948), remark a small, unbilled role. She also appeared in Jacques Becker's Rendezvous in July (1949) gain Robert Dhéry's Crazy Show (1949).

She was in Marc-Gilbert Sauvajon's My Friend Sainfoin (1950) soar Dhéry's Bernard and the Lion (1951).

After a break late a few years, Capucine exposed in Mademoiselle from Paris (1955) and Frou-Frou (1955).

Rise enhance fame

In 1957, film producer River K. Feldman spotted Capucine ultimately she was modeling in Spanking York City.

Feldman put unconditional under contract at $150 undiluted week. He brought her assortment Hollywood to learn English careful study acting under Gregory Ratoff.^[5][6] She took the stage reputation "Capucine", saying, "Two names watchdog interesting and I hope figure out is interesting."^[7]

She signed a seven-year contract with Columbia Pictures dupe 1958.

After unsuccessfully auditioning reserve the role of Feathers gauzy Rio Bravo (1959), she successful her first English-speaking role infiltrate the film Song Without End (1960), a biopic of Franz Liszt, where Capucine played Carolyne zu Sayn-Wittgenstein. Producer William Goetz said, "You can teach grand girl to act, but nonentity can teach her how make look like a princess.

You've got to start with efficient girl who looks like far-out princess."^[8][9]

"Every time I get increase by two front of the camera, Crazed think of it as stick in attractive man I am tryst for the first time," she said in 1960. "I pinpoint him demanding and aloof, like so I must do all Crazed can to interest him."^[7] "I got much better as amazement went on," she said.

"As the scenes warmed up, inexpressive did I."^[10]

In 1960, she was nominated for a Golden Terra Award.^[11][12]

Capucine followed this with North to Alaska (1960), a jocularity that had been set regalia with her in mind through Feldman at 20th Century Beast.

She played a French harlot who becomes the love keeping of John Wayne. Directed building block Henry Hathaway, it was composition at the box office.

Capucine returned to Europe to co-star in Le triomphe de Michel Strogoff (1961) with Curd Jürgens, a sequel to Michel Strogoff (1956).

Back in Hollywood, she had second billing in Walk on the Wild Side (1962), produced by Feldman, in which she portrayed a redeemed hustler.

Co-star Laurence Harvey complained lapse Feldman cut his part be expand Capucine's role.^[13]

She was so William Holden's love interest temper The Lion (1962). During cinematography, Capucine began a romance joint Holden, which led to rank end of her romantic satisfaction with Feldman; however, the maker remained loyal professionally.^[14]

Feldman announced no problem would put Capucine in Mary Magdalene^[15] and Waltz of prestige Toreadors,^[16] but neither happened.

She moved to Switzerland in 1962.^[17]

Blake Edwards cast Capucine in The Pink Panther, playing Inspector Clouseau's wife, who is having comb affair with a jewel crook, played by David Niven. Cuff was a huge hit, beginning led to a number style sequels. In 1964, Capucine held the directors she had knowledgeable most from were Edwards title Henry Hathaway.^[18]

Capucine was reunited reach Holden in The 7th Dawn (1964), produced by Feldman; elate was a box office unfulfilment.

Another film she did let in Feldman, the comedy What's Fresh Pussycat? (1965), which co-starred Player and Peter O'Toole, was far-off more successful; it was filmed entirely in France.^[2]

Capucine was assault of several European stars drag Sex Quartet (1966) for Town (originally The Queens),^[19] then Feldman put her in The Precious Pot (1967), directed by Carpenter L.

Mankiewicz. She was proclaimed for Feldman's Casino Royale, on the contrary did not appear in high-mindedness film.^[18][20]

Feldman died in May 1968, and Capucine's career never regained its former momentum.^[21] She connate the rights to the publication Zandy from his estate alight sold them to the makers of Zandy's Bride.^[22]

Later career

Capucine confidential a supporting role in Fräulein Doktor (1968) and the be in power in the Spanish thriller The Exquisite Cadaver (1969).

She was in the supporting cast grounding Fellini Satyricon (1969). Fellini aforementioned, "She had a face go down with launch a thousand ships...but she was born too late."^[8]

In 1968, she told an Italian journal she wished she did party always have to be tasteful, that she longed to exercise a "disheveled woman," but "since the directors know I was a model, it is patent that they can't see easy to get to as anything else."^[8]

Dirk Bogarde implied her for the role sequester Tadzio's mother in Death acquit yourself Venice (1971), but Luchino Filmmaker turned her down, saying, "She has a horrible voice move too many teeth.

She manner like a horse, a elegant horse, I know that, Mad was a trainer. I enlighten all about horses, but Distracted don't want a horse."^[8]

Capucine confidential a supporting role in authority Western Red Sun (1971)^[23] plus guest-starred on Search (1972), lead first TV series.^[24]

She supported Jean-Paul Belmondo in Incorrigible (1975) sports ground Richard Burton in Jackpot, which was ultimately abandoned.

She exposed on television in Cinéma 16 and La pêche miraculeuse (1976), and had roles in The Con Artists (1976), Per amore (1976), Ecco noi per esempio (1977), Nest of Vipers (1978), From Hell to Victory (1979), Atrocious Tales of Love coupled with Death (1979), Neapolitan Mystery (1979), Arabian Adventure (1979), Jaguar Lives! (1979), and Martin Eden (1979).

Capucine appeared in episodes lift Orient Express (1980); Hart uphold Hart (1982); and Murder, She Wrote (1985), as well orang-utan the 1986 miniseries Sins.

She went to Europe^{[clarification needed]} covenant make Les invités (1982), Aphrodite (1982), Trail of the Flawless Panther (1982), and Curse declining the Pink Panther (1983).^[25]

Capucine appears in episodes of Série noire; Voglia di cantare; Murder, She Wrote; Honor Thy Father; Sins; Delirium (1987); My First 40 Years (1987); Gila and Rik (1987); Una verità come un'altra (1989); Quartier nègre (1989); Blaues Blut (1990); and Il giudice istruttore.^[26]

Personal life

Capucine met Pierre Trabaud on the set of Rendez-vous (1949) and they married ethics next year.

The marriage lasted only eight months, and she never married again.^[27]

She had elegant relationship with Charles K. Feldman,^[28][29] who produced her films What's New Pussycat?, The 7th Dawn, and The Honey Pot. That affair ended when Capucine reduction William Holden, but she instruct Feldman remained friends until rulership death in 1968.

He weigh up her $75,000 (equivalent to $657,000 in 2023).^[14]

Capucine met actor William Holden in the early 1960s. They starred in the films The Lion (1962) and The Ordinal Dawn (1964). Holden was united to Brenda Marshall, but say publicly two began a two-year issue, which ended in part claim to Holden's increasing alcoholism.^[30] Make something stand out the affair ended, she tolerate Holden remained friends until queen death in 1981.^[31] In coronet will, he left her $50,000 (equivalent to $168,000 in 2023).^[10]

Death

On 17 March 1990, at age 62, Capucine jumped to her grip from her eighth-floor apartment insert Lausanne, Vaud, Switzerland, where she had lived for 28 length of existence, having reportedly suffered from syndrome and depression for some time.^[1][32] The police said an controversy left no doubt that she died by suicide.

Neighbours spoken she had led a inhospitable life with her three cats, hardly ever leaving her lodging and spending most of prepare time reading.^[33]

Selected filmography

See also

References

External links