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Original poster

Who was this actress?

55 replies

brokenshoes · 31/12/2016 13:15

DH and I stayed in Paris many times between 2000-2010. On one of our visits we happened across huge crowds watching a procession. When we asked what was happening, it was for a funeral / memorial service for an actress (I think, possibly a singer).

I remember at the time knowing who it was, so someone famous, but I just can't recall now who it was. I think someone famous in the 1950s/60s.

I've looked up Greta Garbo, but she died in 1990, and Brigitte Bardot, but she is still alive. It's really bugging me. Can anyone help?

OP posts:
Original poster
brokenshoes · 04/01/2017 22:16

Just realised it couldn't have been Nina Simone as her funeral took place in the southern French town of Carry-le-Rouet. I was definitely in Paris! (Although I am starting to wonder if I have imagined the whole thing...) But, but, but DH also remembers the event, but annoyingly can't remember who it was either.

OP posts:
LuxuryWoman2017 · 05/01/2017 08:07

Yes but I wondered if something was done in Paris as Nina Simone was such a huge figure. It's possible. Or did you see a cortege? Sure it was a funeral rather than a wedding or political thing?

acatcalledjohn · 05/01/2017 08:21

I know you focus on the person being female, but...

Could it have been Alaxandre Dumas being interred in the Pantheon in 2002?

pressingmatters · 05/01/2017 09:26

Marcel Marceau 2007?
Yves Saint Laurent 2008?

LuxuryWoman2017 · 05/01/2017 09:36

I wondered about Marcel Marceau, OPERA said it was a woman but easy mistake to make as the name is well known but maybe not to younger people.

LuxuryWoman2017 · 05/01/2017 10:16

Opera? Op

mirokarikovo · 05/01/2017 10:47

Lucy Gordon died in Paris in 2009 but Wikipedia doesn't say where her funeral was.

Isitjustmeorisiteveryoneelse · 05/01/2017 11:13

Simone Simon?

mirokarikovo · 05/01/2017 11:23

Odette Joyeux
Corrine Calvert
Lolo Ferrari
Karen Lancaume
Simone Simon
Coccinelle (aka Jacqueline/Jacques Charlotte/Charles Dufresnoy)
Tina Aumont
Anicée Alvina
Solveig Dommartin
Gisèle Pascal
Colette Brosset
Nicole Stéphane
Maia Simon
Madeleine Milhaud
Marie-Françoise Audollent
Lilyan Chauvin

ClaireLumia · 05/01/2017 11:30

Could it be Duchess of ?, Wallace Simpson, Edward VIs widow. I'm not sure when she died so could be way out.

LuxuryWoman2017 · 05/01/2017 11:43

Duchess of Windsor died in the eighties so can't be her.
I have to know who it was now!

PhilODox · 05/01/2017 12:11

I wondered about Danielle Darrieux, but she's actually still alive!

Francoise Sagan perhaps? Or maybe Dalida?

Original poster
brokenshoes · 05/01/2017 12:50

Right, DH tells me the church (abbey?) was the Eglise de Saint Germain des Prés, close to the Cafe de Flore.

OP posts:
LuxuryWoman2017 · 05/01/2017 14:06

OK, that's the oldest church in Paris and I can only find historical famous people buried there - so possibly a memorial service.

Do you remember if our mystery person had a French name?

Did you just see crowds or a funeral car/formal cars (formal cars could be other celebs or politicians going to the memorial.?

Was there music? camera crews?

Heck, I can normally walk way from 'name this song/book/film' threads but I am intrigued by this.

Original poster
brokenshoes · 05/01/2017 14:40

I remember we turned the corner and came across loads of people lining the street, possibly 5-6 people deep.

We joined them and that's when we asked what was going on. Not sure if it was a French name or not, but I do recall knowing who the person was.

No recollection of cars or camera crews.

Possibly remember craning my neck to view the church and seeing people on the steps, but that could be my mind playing tricks.

OP posts:
Original poster
brokenshoes · 05/01/2017 14:42

Don't remember music either.

OP posts:
LuxuryWoman2017 · 05/01/2017 14:52

Sacha Distel, a man but if you weren't familiar with him could have mistaken that for a female name, he was a big singing star.

Original poster
brokenshoes · 05/01/2017 14:54

Here are the dates we were in Paris:

5-6 May 2009
14 May 2009

14-17 Oct 2006

29 August 2005

29 April-2 May 2005

17 May 2004

20-24 September 2003

7-11 April 2002

24-27 Nov 2000

11-15 Feb 2000

Likely to be more recent, than earlier. Surely with these dates and the location we can solve this??

OP posts:
LuxuryWoman2017 · 05/01/2017 14:59

I have contacted some friends in Paris (!) one has sent me a list, let me see if I can do link. they're in date order (by year)

www.anniversaire-celebrite.com/morts.html

If that doesn't work I will try again, but if it does click to translate to English I you don't read French then scroll down the years.

VanillaSugar · 05/01/2017 15:28

Oh, I love a good mystery.

Threesoundslikealot · 06/01/2017 08:58

Distel's funeral was on the Riviera Google tells me

Threesoundslikealot · 06/01/2017 08:59

Was it definitely a funeral and not some sort of visit?

happynewyearchum · 06/01/2017 09:03
Brew
Threesoundslikealot · 06/01/2017 21:12

French singer Alain Bashung had what looks like a big funeral at St Germain in March 2009. Any chance you were there then?