Berthe Bovy (6 January 1887 – 26 February 1977), sometimes known as Betty Bovy, was a Belgian actress who appeared in theatre, films and television programmes for over 60 years.

Biography

Born Berthe Marguerite Jeanne Bovy, she was the daughter of poet and journalist

Théophile Bovy Théophile Bovy (March 8, 1863 – June 6, 1937) was a Belgium, Belgian journalist, poet and dramatic author in Wallonia, who wrote the words of the ''Le Chant des Wallons'', the Wallonia, Walloon national anthem. He was the father of actress Bert ...

, she was born in Cheratte, now part of the commune of

Visé Visé (; nl, Wezet, ; wa, Vizé) is a city and municipality of Wallonia, located on the river Meuse in the province of Liège, Belgium. The municipality consists of the following districts: Argenteau, Cheratte, Lanaye, Lixhe, Richelle, ...

, in the

province A province is almost always an administrative division within a country or sovereign state, state. The term derives from the ancient Roman ''Roman province, provincia'', which was the major territorial and administrative unit of the Roman Empire ...

Liège Liège ( , , ; wa, Lîdje ; nl, Luik ; german: Lüttich ) is a major city and municipality of Wallonia and the capital of the Belgian province of Liège. The city is situated in the valley of the Meuse, in the east of Belgium, not far from b ...

. Seemingly interested in acting from an early age, an interest which her father encouraged, she enrolled in the Koninklijk Conservatorium in Brussels following a meeting with

Sarah Bernhardt Sarah Bernhardt (; born Henriette-Rosine Bernard; 22 or 23 October 1844 – 26 March 1923) was a French stage actress who starred in some of the most popular French plays of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, including '' La Dame Aux Camel ...

. From 1904 to 1906 she studied at the CNSAD in Paris. She joined the

Comédie-Française The Comédie-Française () or Théâtre-Français () is one of the few state theatres in France. Founded in 1680, it is the oldest active theatre company in the world. Established as a French state-controlled entity in 1995, it is the only state ...

in 1907. She was married and divorced three times, first to Charles Gribouval, secretary of the Comédie-Française, secondly with artist Ion Anton Ion-Don, and thirdly, in 1929, with Pierre Jules Louis Laudenbach, better known by his stage name

Pierre Fresnay Pierre Fresnay (4 April 1897 – 9 January 1975) was a French stage and film actor. Biography Born Pierre Jules Louis Laudenbach, he was encouraged by his uncle, actor Claude Garry, to pursue a career in theater and film. He joined the company a ...

. She died at

Montgeron Montgeron () is a commune in the southeastern suburbs of Paris, France. It is northeast part of the Department of Essonne. It is located from the center of Paris. The café ''Au Reveil Matin'' at 22 Avenue Jean Jaurès was the departure point ...

in France and is buried in the city of

Filmography

*1908: ''

The Assassination of the Duke of Guise ''The Assassination of the Duke of Guise'' ( 1908) (original French title: ''La Mort du duc de Guise''; often referred to as ''L'Assassinat du duc de Guise'') is a French historical film directed by Charles le Bargy and André Calmettes, adapte ...

'' (Short) - Le page *1910: ''On ne badine pas avec l'amour'' (Short) - Camille *1911: ''Le roman d'une pauvre fille'' *1912: ''La conquête du bonheur'' - Suzette Robert *1913: ''Coeur de femme'' - Marie-Claire de la Salette *1913: ''Le fils de Lagardère'' - Bathilde de Wendel *1913: ''Le baiser suprême'' *1913: '' Le Roman de Carpentier'' (Short) *1921: ''

The Earth Earth is the third planet from the Sun and the only astronomical object known to harbor life. While large volumes of water can be found throughout the Solar System, only Earth sustains liquid surface water. About 71% of Earth's surface ...

'' - La Trouille *1938: ''Le Joueur'' - Babouchka *1939: ''Je t'attendrai'' - Mme Marchand - La mère de Paul *1942: '' The Beautiful Adventure'' - Madame de Trévillac *1945: '' Boule de Suif'' - Madame Bonnet *1948: ''

The Last Vacation ''The Last Vacation'' (French: ''Les dernières vacances'') is a 1948 French drama film directed by Roger Leenhardt and starring Odile Versois, Michel François, and Jean Lara.Marie p.57 The film's art direction was by Léon Barsacq Léon Bars ...

'' - Tante Délie *1948: ''L'ombre'' - Mme Fournier *1948: '' D'homme à hommes'' - La mère de Dunant *1948: '' L'Armoire volante'' - Madame Lea Lobligeois *1949: ''

Fantomas Against Fantomas ''Fantomas Against Fantomas'' (french: Fantômas contre Fantômas) is a 1949 French mystery thriller film directed by Robert Vernay and starring Marcelle Chantal, Aimé Clariond and Alexandre Rignault Alexandre Rignault (14 February 1901 � ...

'' - La vieille dame *1950: '' La Souricière'' - Mlle Germaine *1951: '' La Maison Bonnadieu'' - Madame Ramadin - la grand-mère *1954: '' On Trial'' - La grand-mère *1956: '' Le Secret de sœur Angèle'' - La supérieure de Paris *1957: ''Bonjour Toubib'' - Madame Cohen *1962: ''Mon oncle du Texas'' - La grand-mère Elisa *1967: ''Le dimanche de la vie'' - Nanette *1971: ''Aussi loin que l'amour'' - Une invitée (final film role)

References

* Pasleau, Suzy, ''BOVY, Berthe'', in

Éliane Gubin Éliane Gubin (born in 1942) is a Belgian historian, researcher and professor of political and social history, specializing in the history of women and feminism. In the late 1980s, she initiated the introduction of women's history at the Universi ...

, Catherine Jacques, Valérie Piette & Jean Puissant (eds), ''Dictionnaire des femmes belges: XIX^e et XX^e siècles.'' Bruxelles: Éditions Racine, 2006.

External links

* 1887 births 1977 deaths Belgian stage actresses Belgian film actresses Belgian silent film actresses 20th-century Belgian actresses Sociétaires of the Comédie-Française French National Academy of Dramatic Arts alumni {{belgium-actor-stub