Michel Mercier, real name Jocelyn Yvonne Rene Mercier is one of the most famous film actresses of the twentieth century. The actress starred in 55 films and three TV series. Mercier became world famous for the role of Angelica in a series of historical films based on the novels of Anna and Serge Gallon.
Childhood and youth
The date of birth of the actress is January 1, 1939. The father of the future star was a major French pharmaceutical magnate. Jocelyne had a younger sister, Michelle, a real pet in the house. It was with her that her father had grandiose plans for the future. He had no doubt that, having matured, Michelle would definitely head his large pharmaceutical factory.
Jocelyn, for her parents, was a complete disappointment. She was too windy and frivolous. She could show off in front of a mirror for days, was fond of ballet and dreamed of becoming a professional ballerina.
Suddenly grief came to their family: little Michelle died of typhus, and Jocelyn fled to London, away from parental care. Alas, the girl did not become a ballerina, and she was forced to return to her parents' house.
Actor career
Mercier was offered to star in the film quite by accident. Together with her father, she walked in the city garden, where director Denis de la Patellaire and screenwriter Michel Audiar drew attention to her. The Comedy Turn of the Handle was a good start for Jocelyne in her acting career. Ironically, the producers did not like the name Jocelyn, and now the actress is called Michelle, as the untimely deceased younger sister.
After The Turn of the Knob, Mercier begins to appear constantly in the movies. Every year, pictures with her participation were released. Film critics noticed the talent of the young actress and began to speak well of her work in the cinema.
Michelle Mercier soon moved to work in the UK and then to Italy. The actress was already known in many countries of the world, but in her native France she was practically unknown.
In 1963, director Bernard Borderie offered Michel Mercier the lead role in the historical costumed film "Angelica" based on the novel by Anna and Serge Gallon. This role has already been abandoned by Brigitte Bardot and Catherine Deneuve. In total, from 1964 to 1968, five feature-length films of this series were released. The role of Angelica brought Michelle Mercier truly worldwide recognition.
After "Angelica" the actress tries to move away from this on-screen image. She soon appears as a prostitute in Heavenly Thunder, and a murderer in The Second Truth.
Mercier goes to Hollywood, but there she does not succeed. It so happened that after "Angelica" she no longer played prominent roles in films.
The triumphant success of the films about the "Marquis of Angels" did not in any way affect the material well-being of the actress herself. Mercier's fees for the role of Angelica were ridiculous.
Currently, the actress regularly appears at international film festivals, and in 2006 the French government awarded Michel Mercier the Order of Arts and Letters.
Personal life - do not be born beautiful …
Michelle Mercier was married 4 times, but all these relationships did not bring her happiness. According to the actresses themselves, only her last common-law husband Adrian was her true love. For his sake, she left the profession for many years. True, after a few years of a passionate romance, Adrian died of a brain tumor.
Michelle Mercier has no children.
