Sarah Bernhardt

Sarah Bernhardt
Sarah Bernhardt in June 1877, during a visit to Boston, Massachusetts
Born
Sara-Marie-Henriette Rosine Bernardt

(1844-10-22)October 22, 1844
Paris, France
DiedMarch 26, 1923(1923-03-26) (aged 78)
Paris, France
Years active1862–1923
SpouseAmbroise Aristide Damala (1882–1889)

Sarah Bernhardt (French: [saʁa bɛʁnɑʁt]; born Henriette-Rosine Bernard; 22 or 23 October 1844 – 26 March 1923) was a French stage actress, and has often been called "the most famous actress in the history of the world". Bernhardt made her fame on the stages of Europe in the 1870s, and was soon working in Europe and the United States. She developed a reputation as a serious actress, getting the nickname "The Divine Sarah."

Early life

She was born in Paris as Marie Henriette Bernardt, the daughter of Julie Bernardt and a Dutch father. She added the letter "H" to her first and last name, and used the name of Edouard Bernardt, her mother's brother, as the name of her father. This was probably done to hide the fact that her father was unknown.

Career

Bernhardt's career started in 1862, when she was a student at the Comédie-Française. She was not very successful there, and left to become a courtesan by 1865. She became famous in Europe in the 1870s, and was soon in demand all over Europe and in New York. She may have been the most famous actress of the 19th century. She coached many young women in the art of acting, including Liane de Pougy.

Late career

Bernhardt's grave

In 1905, while performing in Rio de Janeiro, Bernhardt hurt her right knee during the final scene when she jumped from a high wall. The leg never healed properly, showing signs of bruising. By 1915, gangrene had set in and her entire right leg was amputated, meaning she was in a wheelchair for several months. Nonetheless, she continued her career. She carried out a successful tour of America in 1915, and died on returning to France. On 26 March 1923, Bernhardt died of uremia following kidney failure. She is buried in Père Lachaise Cemetery in Paris.

Sarah Bernhardt has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 1751 Vine Street.

Books

Roles

Sarah Bernhardt - 1899
As Hamlet
Sarah Bernhardt, in a portrait, 1890s.

References

  1. ↑ She was baptised in 1857, when was about 12, but the record is missing. A birth date taken from a certificate of a baptism conducted at the age of 12 would not be reliable as a primary source, and could only be used to corroborate other evidence. (In The Art of High Drama, a Professor Ockman describes finding an "unidentified newspaper clipping" in the Bibliothèque de la Comédie Francaise in Paris, which included a copy of a baptismal certificate saying Bernhardt was born on 25 September 1844.) It has been claimed that "Bernhardt sometimes celebrated her birthday on 23 October", although there is no verification of this claim. Bernhardt’s 1907 autobiography Ma double vie (My Double Life) made no reference to her date of birth.
  2. ↑ Gottlieb, Robert. "The Drama of Sarah Bernhardt". Retrieved 2009-05-19. {{cite magazine}}: Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
  3. ↑ "Internet Broadway Database credits for Mme. Sarah Bernhardt". Retrieved 2007-10-18.
  4. ↑ Golden, Eve. "From Stage to Screen: The Film Career of Sarah Bernhardt". Archived from the original on 2006-04-27. Retrieved 2007-10-18.
  5. ↑ "Find a Grave entry for Sarah Bernhardt". Find a Grave. Retrieved 2007-10-18.

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