Actress Jeanne Moreau, the symbol of the 1960s’ Nouvelle Vague (New Wave), has died at the age of 89. Ms Moreau was found dead at her home in Paris.
One of the brightest actresses of European cinema, Jeanne Moreau became the world famous after her role in Francois Truffaut’s 1962 Jules et Jim. The prominent actress won a number of awards including the best actress prize at Cannes for Moderato Cantabile in 1960, she paved the way to the big screen to two gifted French actresses -Catherine Deneuve and Brigitte Bardot. Post-war French cinema is unthinkable without her, say the critics.
The success of Jeanne Moreau
So many key directors owe important, often breakthrough successes to her – Louis Malle’s Lift to the Scaffold and The Lovers (1957), Francois Truffaut’s Jules et Jim and Jacques Demy’s Bay of Angels, for instance.
Moreau’s famous sensual presence was backed up with formidable timing and technique, so much so that every major director wanted to work with her – Orson Welles, Michelangelo Antonioni, Joseph Losey and Luis Bunuel among them. Subtle, smart and charismatic actress embodied the symbol of the woman in all her movies. Luc Besson invited Jeanne Moreau to play the interesting character of the mentor Amande in his famous drama Nikita (1990).
Jeanne Moreau was not only an actress, her excellent writing skills allowed her to be a screenwriter. She directed personally three movies during the 1970s. Moreau was one the most honourable artists in the history of French and world cinema, the first her award the actress receive in 1958 – the jury of Venice Film Festival picked her as The Best Actress for the role in Lovers (Les amants).
The family of the great French actress gave no comments so far.
