Nicole Stéphane
Encyclopedia
Nicole Stéphane was a French
actress, producer and director. As an actress, she is mostly known for her role in two films by Jean-Pierre Melville, Les Enfants terribles and Le Silence de la mer
.
The elder of the two daughters of Baron James-Henri de Rothschild and his first wife, Claude Dupont, Nicole Stéphane was a member of the Jewish Rothschild banking family of France
. Her immediate family, however, also was deeply immersed in the arts. Her paternal grandfather, Baron Henri de Rothschild, was a playwright and theatrical producer who wrote under the names Charles des Fontaines and André Pascal and owned Théâtre Antoine and Théâtre Pigalle
. Her first cousin Philippine de Rothschild
was an actress with the Comédie-Française
, using the name Philippine Pascal. And her father's brother, the vintner Philippe de Rothschild
, wrote plays, owned theaters, and produced motion pictures.
Stéphane joined the army during World War II, and was imprisoned in Spain in 1942 after crossing the Pyrenées while she was trying to join the Free French. She was also a liaison agent in Germany.
Her final movie as an actress was Carve Her Name with Pride
. Unfortunately, her acting career was cut short by a car accident. She reoriented herself towards production, helping in particular Georges Franju
and Jean-Pierre Melville. Among her production credits was Swann in Love
, a 1984 adaptation of Marcel Proust
's novel Remembrance of Things Past that starred Jeremy Irons
and Ornella Muti
. She was also honored as a member of Ordre des Arts et des Lettres
by the government of France.
In the early 1970s, Stéphane was the lover of the American writer and critic Susan Sontag
.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
actress, producer and director. As an actress, she is mostly known for her role in two films by Jean-Pierre Melville, Les Enfants terribles and Le Silence de la mer
Le Silence de la Mer (film)
Le Silence de la mer is a 1949 film by Jean-Pierre Melville that takes place in 1941 and concerns a Frenchman and his niece's relationship with a German lieutenant who lives in their house during the German occupation of France...
.
The elder of the two daughters of Baron James-Henri de Rothschild and his first wife, Claude Dupont, Nicole Stéphane was a member of the Jewish Rothschild banking family of France
Rothschild banking family of France
The Rothschild banking family of France was founded in 1812 in Paris by James Mayer Rothschild . James was sent there from his home in Frankfurt, Germany by his father, Mayer Amschel Rothschild...
. Her immediate family, however, also was deeply immersed in the arts. Her paternal grandfather, Baron Henri de Rothschild, was a playwright and theatrical producer who wrote under the names Charles des Fontaines and André Pascal and owned Théâtre Antoine and Théâtre Pigalle
Théâtre Pigalle
The Théâtre Pigalle was a theatre in Paris, located in the rue Pigalle in the ninth arrondissement.- History :Opened on June 20, 1929, financed by Philippe de Rothschild on the estate of his father Henri de Rothschild, the Rothschilds' ambition was to construct the most modern theatre in the world...
. Her first cousin Philippine de Rothschild
Philippine de Rothschild
Baroness Philippine Mathilde Camille de Rothschild is the owner of the French winery Château Mouton Rothschild. She also has acted under the stage name Philippine Pascale....
was an actress with 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....
, using the name Philippine Pascal. And her father's brother, the vintner Philippe de Rothschild
Philippe de Rothschild
Baron Philippe de Rothschild was a member of the Rothschild banking dynasty who became a Grand Prix race-car driver, a screenwriter and playwright, a theatrical producer, a film producer, a poet, and one of the most successful wine growers in the world.-Early life:Born in Paris, Georges Philippe...
, wrote plays, owned theaters, and produced motion pictures.
Stéphane joined the army during World War II, and was imprisoned in Spain in 1942 after crossing the Pyrenées while she was trying to join the Free French. She was also a liaison agent in Germany.
Her final movie as an actress was Carve Her Name with Pride
Carve Her Name with Pride
Carve Her Name with Pride is a 1958 British drama film based on the book of the same name by R.J. Minney. Set during World War II, the film is based on the true story of the heroism of Special Operations Executive agent Violette Szabo, with Virginia McKenna in the lead role.The film includes the...
. Unfortunately, her acting career was cut short by a car accident. She reoriented herself towards production, helping in particular Georges Franju
Georges Franju
-External links:* at Allmovie...
and Jean-Pierre Melville. Among her production credits was Swann in Love
Un amour de Swann (film)
Un amour de Swann is a 1984 Franco-German film directed by Volker Schlöndorff. Its screenplay is largely inspired by the novel of the same name by Marcel Proust....
, a 1984 adaptation of Marcel Proust
Marcel Proust
Valentin Louis Georges Eugène Marcel Proust was a French novelist, critic, and essayist best known for his monumental À la recherche du temps perdu...
's novel Remembrance of Things Past that starred Jeremy Irons
Jeremy Irons
Jeremy John Irons is an English actor. After receiving classical training at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, Irons began his acting career on stage in 1969, and has since appeared in many London theatre productions including The Winter's Tale, Macbeth, Much Ado About Nothing, The Taming of the...
and Ornella Muti
Ornella Muti
Ornella Muti is an Italian actress. She was born in Rome as Francesca Romana Rivelli, to a Neapolitan father and Russian mother. Her maternal grandparents immigrated from Leningrad , Russia, to Estonia...
. She was also honored as a member of Ordre des Arts et des Lettres
Ordre des Arts et des Lettres
The Ordre des Arts et des Lettres is an Order of France, established on 2 May 1957 by the Minister of Culture, and confirmed as part of the Ordre national du Mérite by President Charles de Gaulle in 1963...
by the government of France.
In the early 1970s, Stéphane was the lover of the American writer and critic Susan Sontag
Susan Sontag
Susan Sontag was an American author, literary theorist, feminist and political activist whose works include On Photography and Against Interpretation.-Life:...
.
Awards
- 1953 — Nominated BAFTA Film Award for Best Foreign Actress — Les Enfants terribles (1950)