Disappearance of actress Micheline Presle

“France is orphaned by its beloved saint”: the doyenne of French cinema dies at the age of 101.

“Micheline passed away peacefully, at the National House of Artists in Nogent-sur-Marne”, announced Olivier Bomsel, his son-in-law, to AFP. And to add that after his death, this Wednesday February 21, his funeral will take place in privacy. Since this announcement, tributes have multiplied. It’s that Micheline Presle, with more than 180 roles to his credit, had rubbed shoulders with the greatest figures of French cinema. Passing in front of the cameraAbel Gance, Jacques Demy, Claude Autant-Lara (notably alongside Gérard Philipe For The Devil in the body), Sacha Guitry, Philippe de Brochas, Fritz Lang, and so many others, she had managed to carve out a place for herself in the national cinematic landscape. In the list of filmmakers who directed her, one name stands out: that of her daughter, Tony Marshallwho died in 2020 and who gave her a role in four of her films, including that of Aunt Maryse in Venus Beauty (Institute)César for best director in 2000.

She was born Micheline Chassagne in 1922 in Paris. Her entire career was recognized when she received the Honorary César in 2004, the opportunity for her to once again profess her love of the 7th art: “Cinema is without a doubt the most beautiful story of my life”she then declares.

His second love may have been the small screen. She gained popularity there with The Holy Darlings (1965-1971), ORTF series created by Nicole de Buron and a large part of the episodes are directed by Jean Becker.

She will also have appeared on stage, but it is associated with the big screen that her image will remain engraved in memories. “Micheline Presle was an emblematic figure of French cinema”salutes the Academy twenty years after his first tribute, while Gilles Jacobformer president of the Cannes Film Festival, told AFP: “Infinite sadness. France is orphan of its darling saint”.