Claude Gensac (1 March 1927 – 27 December 2016) was a French

actress An actor or actress is a person who portrays a Character (arts), character in a performance. The actor performs "in the flesh" in the traditional medium of the theatre or in modern media such as film, radio, and television. The analogous Greek ...

. She appeared in more than 70 films and television productions since 1952. Gensac is the oldest nominee to date in the category

César Award for Best Supporting Actress The César Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role (French: ''César de la meilleure actrice dans un second rôle'') is one of the César Awards, presented annually by the ''Académie des Arts et Techniques du Cinéma'' to recognize the outst ...

, nominated in 2015 for her role as Marthe in the film ''

Lulu femme nue ''Lulu femme nue'' (festival title: ''Lulu in the Nude'') is a 2013 French comedy-drama film directed by Sólveig Anspach and based on the comic book ''Lulu femme nue'' by Etienne Davodeau. Cast * Karin Viard as Lulu * Bouli Lanners as Charl ...

''.

Career

In 1952, Gensac portrayed the character of Evelyne in her first feature film, ''La Vie d'un homme honnête.'' She collaborated on a number of films with

Louis de Funès Louis Germain David de Funès de Galarza (; 31 July 1914 – 27 January 1983) was a French actor and comedian. He is France's favourite actor, according to a series of polls conducted since the late 1960s, having played over 150 roles in fil ...

, often playing his wife, to international acclaim. She appeared in the series of movies " Les Gendarmes" with Louis de Funès. She played De Funès' wife, Josepha Cruchot. After De Funès's death in 1983, Gensac was rarely involved in film, but was active as a theater actress. In 2001 she returned to film in the French version of ''

Absolutely Fabulous ''Absolutely Fabulous'' (also known as ''Ab Fab'') is a British television sitcom based on the ''French and Saunders'' sketch, "Modern Mother and Daughter", created by Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders. The show was created and written by Saund ...

'', her first film role since 1983. Gensac appeared in over 100 cinema and television films, as well as numerous theater roles. In 2011 she was awarded the ''

Ordre des Arts et des Lettres The ''Ordre des Arts et des Lettres'' (Order of Arts and Letters) is an order of France established on 2 May 1957 by the Minister of Culture. Its supplementary status to the was confirmed by President Charles de Gaulle in 1963. Its purpose is ...

'' at the officer grade.

Personal life

Claude Gensac was married twice: from 1952 to 1954 with the actor Pierre Mondy and from 1958 to 1977 with Henri Chemin, a racer and PR Manager of

Ford Ford commonly refers to: * Ford Motor Company, an automobile manufacturer founded by Henry Ford * Ford (crossing), a shallow crossing on a river Ford may also refer to: Ford Motor Company * Henry Ford, founder of the Ford Motor Company * Ford F ...

France with whom she had a son. She died in her sleep on 27 December 2016. She was 89 years old.

Filmography

References

External links

*
Les Archives du Spectacle

Homepage
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gensac, Claude 1927 births 2016 deaths People from Oise French National Academy of Dramatic Arts alumni Officiers of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres French film actresses French television actresses 20th-century French actresses 21st-century French actresses