, known professionally as (born 9 February 1946 in ,

French Algeria French Algeria (french: Alger to 1839, then afterwards; unofficially , ar, الجزائر المستعمرة), also known as Colonial Algeria, was the period of French colonisation of Algeria. French rule in the region began in 1830 with the ...

) is a French singer and actress. She is a

transgender A transgender (often abbreviated as trans) person is someone whose gender identity or gender expression does not correspond with their sex assigned at birth. Many transgender people experience dysphoria, which they seek to alleviate through tr ...

Parisian pop icon of the 1970s.

Biography

Marie-France was hired in 1969 by the cabaret bar in the

Latin Quarter The Latin Quarter of Paris (french: Quartier latin, ) is an area in the 5th and the 6th arrondissements of Paris. It is situated on the left bank of the Seine, around the Sorbonne. Known for its student life, lively atmosphere, and bistros ...

of Paris, where she gained recognition by portraying

Marilyn Monroe Marilyn Monroe (; born Norma Jeane Mortenson; 1 June 1926 4 August 1962) was an American actress. Famous for playing comedic " blonde bombshell" characters, she became one of the most popular sex symbols of the 1950s and early 1960s, as wel ...

. She remained one of the celebrities of that music-hall until 1987. She became a member of (FHAR, 'Homosexual Front of Revolutionary Action'), alongside . As a member of FHAR, she was interviewed in the magazine (special issue "" (3 billion perverts), 1973). She was a member of a small group, the Gazolines, with . The two performed in by Adolfo Arrieta (1974). Marie-France was often referred to as transsexual, a word that she disliked, and one which certain television hosts automatically questioned. "When one has passed onto the other side, why do they keep this title?" she regrets. She appeared as a singer in by in 1976, where she produced "", a song written by . She pursued her acting career in theater, notably in by in 1979. She recorded the album (''39 °C Fever'') in 1980, performing several renditions of 1960s pop (, , , ). She appeared in the film , directed by in 1987. In 1993, she recorded a song by with

Marc Almond Peter Mark Sinclair "Marc" Almond, (born 9 July 1957) is an English singer. Almond first began performing and recording in the synthpop/ new wave duo Soft Cell where he became known for his distinctive soulful voice and androgynous image. He ...

. and collaborated with her in 1997 on her eponymous album. Dave then invited her on his album in 2003. Frédéric Botton wrote several songs for her in 2005. At the end of 2006, and Marie France sang a duet titled "". This song is featured on the first album . Marie France also published a duet with on her last album, released in October 2007. In 2008, Marie France recorded a rock'n'roll garage album entirely written by Jacques Duvall and composed by Miam Monster Miam. The album is titled ''Phantom feat. Marie France''.

Filmography

* 1963 : ''

Tomy's Secret ''Tomy's Secret'' (Spanish: ''El secreto de Tomy'') is a 1963 French-Spanish musical film directed by Antonio del Amo and starring Fabienne Dali, Joselito and Fernando Casanova.de España p.9 The film's sets were designed by Sigfrido Burmann Sig ...

'' * 1969 : by * 1972 : by Adolfo Arrieta (as Carmen) * 1973 : ''

I Will Walk Like a Crazy Horse ''I Will Walk Like a Crazy Horse'' ( French: ''J'irai comme un cheval fou'', also known as ''I Will Go Like a Wild Horse'') is a 1973 French surreal drama film directed by Fernando Arrabal. The movie first released on November 22, 1973 in France a ...

'' by

Fernando Arrabal Fernando Arrabal Terán (born August 11, 1932) is a Spanish playwright, screenwriter, film director, novelist, and poet. He was born in Melilla and settled in France in 1955. Regarding his nationality, Arrabal describes himself as "desterrado", ...

* 1974 : by * 1974 : by and * 1975 : by (as Rita) * 1976 : by (as The Singer) * 1985 : by * 1985 : ''

Love Circles "Love Circles" is the second and final single released from Squeeze's eighth album, '' Frank''. It featured a rare lead vocal turn by Squeeze lyricist Chris Difford Christopher Henry Difford (born 4 November 1954) is an English singer, mu ...

'' (french: La Ronde de l'Amour, links=no) (as Suzy) * 1987 : by * 1987 : by (as The Singer) * 1987 : by (as The coach) * 1991 : by * 1994 : (short film) by * 1998 : by (as Marie-Claude, known as , 'the whore') * 2003 : (medium-length documentary) by and (as herself) * 2003 : (documentary) by (as herself) * 2010 : de

Discography

* "Daisy / " (1977) – single (Romantik) * "Los Angeles / " (1978) – single (Phonogram) * (1981) – album (RCA) * " / " (1982) – single (RCA) * " / " (1983) – single (RCA) * (1996) - limited edition mini-album (Freedom 001) * (1997) – album (Last Call) * (2006) – album (Edina) * ''Phantom featuring Marie France'' (2008) - album (Freaksville records) * (2009) (JPB Production) * (2016) - Album (Freaksville records)

Quotes

* About her,

Marguerite Duras Marguerite Germaine Marie Donnadieu (, 4 April 1914 – 3 March 1996), known as Marguerite Duras (), was a French novelist, playwright, screenwriter, essayist, and experimental filmmaker. Her script for the film ''Hiroshima mon amour'' (1959) ea ...

said: "It is impossible to not be aroused by her. Everyone. Women as well as men."

References

* D'elle,

a dit : ''« C'est impossible de ne pas être troublé par elle. Tout le monde. Les femmes comme les hommes »''

Bibliography

* Garcia, Marie-France, ''Elle était une fois'', ed. Denoël, 2003 (coll. X-Treme).

External links

*
Official Site
; *

*
Léonard Lasry Site
*

(from Cercles) *
Review of her album "Marie France visite Bardot"
{{DEFAULTSORT:France, Marie 1946 births Living people People from Oran Transgender women musicians Algerian LGBT musicians French LGBT singers French transgender people France, Marie Pieds-Noirs Transgender actresses Transgender singers