Mademoiselle Mars
Encyclopedia
Mademoiselle Mars, (February 9, 1779-March 20, 1847), French actress, was born in Paris, the natural daughter of the actor-author named Monvel (Jacques Marie Boutet)
(1745–1812) and Jeanne-Marie Salvetat (1748–1838), an actress known as Madame Mars, whose southern accent had made her Paris debut a failure.
Mlle Mars began her stage career in children's parts, and by 1799, after the rehabilitation of the Comédie-Française
, she and her elder half-sister (Marie-Louise-Geneviève Salvetat, called Louise and known professionally as Mlle Mars aînée) joined that company, of which she remained an active member for 33 years. Her beauty and talents soon placed her at the top of her profession.
She was incomparable in ingenue parts, and equally charming as the coquette. Molière
, Marivaux
, Michel-Jean Sedaine
, and Pierre Beaumarchais
had no more accomplished interpreter, and in her career of half a century, besides many comedy roles of the older repertoire, she created fully a hundred parts in plays which owed success largely to her. She also helped educate foreign actors, among them the Swedish actors Charlotta Eriksson
and Emilie Högquist
. For her farewell performance she selected Elmire in Tartuffe
, and Silvia in Jeu de l'amour et du hasard, two of her most popular roles; and for her benefit, a few days after, Climène in Le Misanthrope
and Araminthe in Les Femmes savantes
.
By her liaison with a Swiss-born French soldier, Nicolas Bronner (1773–1816), she had three children: a son, who died at birth; Louis-Alphonse (born 14 March 1799), and a daughter, Hippolyte (1800-31 March 1820).
Mademoiselle Mars retired following 1841 and died in Paris on 20 March 1847. She and her children are buried in Pere Lachaise cemetery; sharing the tomb is the body of her niece, an actress known as Georgina Mars (died 1821).
Jacques Marie Boutet
Jacques Marie Boutet was a French actor and comic dramatist from Lunéville. His pseudonym was Monvel. He was a small, thin man without good looks or voice, and yet he became one of the greatest comedians of his time....
(1745–1812) and Jeanne-Marie Salvetat (1748–1838), an actress known as Madame Mars, whose southern accent had made her Paris debut a failure.
Mlle Mars began her stage career in children's parts, and by 1799, after the rehabilitation of the Comédie-Française
Comédie-Française
The Comédie-Française or Théâtre-Français is one of the few state theaters in France. It is the only state theater to have its own troupe of actors. It is located in the 1st arrondissement of Paris....
, she and her elder half-sister (Marie-Louise-Geneviève Salvetat, called Louise and known professionally as Mlle Mars aînée) joined that company, of which she remained an active member for 33 years. Her beauty and talents soon placed her at the top of her profession.
She was incomparable in ingenue parts, and equally charming as the coquette. Molière
Molière
Jean-Baptiste Poquelin, known by his stage name Molière, was a French playwright and actor who is considered to be one of the greatest masters of comedy in Western literature...
, Marivaux
Pierre de Marivaux
Pierre Carlet de Chamblain de Marivaux , commonly referred to as Marivaux, was a French novelist and dramatist....
, Michel-Jean Sedaine
Michel-Jean Sedaine
Michel-Jean Sedaine was a French dramatist, was born in Paris.- Biography :His father, who was an architect, died when Sedaine was quite young, leaving no fortune, and the boy began life as a mason's labourer...
, and Pierre Beaumarchais
Pierre Beaumarchais
Pierre-Augustin Caron de Beaumarchais was a French playwright, watchmaker, inventor, musician, diplomat, fugitive, spy, publisher, arms dealer, satirist, financier, and revolutionary ....
had no more accomplished interpreter, and in her career of half a century, besides many comedy roles of the older repertoire, she created fully a hundred parts in plays which owed success largely to her. She also helped educate foreign actors, among them the Swedish actors Charlotta Eriksson
Charlotta Eriksson
Charlotta Maria Eriksson was a Swedish actress, one of the most popular and notable actors in Sweden in the first half of the 19th century. She was also a translator, an actor-instructor, a vice principal, and a painter....
and Emilie Högquist
Emilie Högquist
Emilie Sophie Högquist was a Swedish actress and the mistress of Oscar I of Sweden. She was a star of the Royal Dramatic Theatre, the most celebrated dramatic Swedish primadonna of her time, called the Swedish Aspasia, and also famous for her love affairs...
. For her farewell performance she selected Elmire in Tartuffe
Tartuffe
Tartuffe is a comedy by Molière. It is one of his most famous plays.-History:Molière wrote Tartuffe in 1664...
, and Silvia in Jeu de l'amour et du hasard, two of her most popular roles; and for her benefit, a few days after, Climène in Le Misanthrope
Le Misanthrope
The Misanthrope is a 17th-century comedy of manners in verse written by Molière. It was first performed on 4 June 1666 at the Théâtre du Palais-Royal, Paris by the King's Players....
and Araminthe in Les Femmes savantes
Les Femmes Savantes
Les Femmes savantes is a play by Molière in five acts, written in verse. A satire on academic pretention, female education, and préciosité , it was one of his most popular comedies...
.
By her liaison with a Swiss-born French soldier, Nicolas Bronner (1773–1816), she had three children: a son, who died at birth; Louis-Alphonse (born 14 March 1799), and a daughter, Hippolyte (1800-31 March 1820).
Mademoiselle Mars retired following 1841 and died in Paris on 20 March 1847. She and her children are buried in Pere Lachaise cemetery; sharing the tomb is the body of her niece, an actress known as Georgina Mars (died 1821).