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Mistinguett (, born Jeanne Florentine Bourgeois; 5 April 1873 – 5 January 1956) was a French actress and singer. She was at one time the highest-paid female entertainer in the world.


Early life

The daughter of Antoine Bourgeois, a 31-year-old day-labourer, and Jeannette Debrée, a 21-year-old seamstress, Jeanne Bourgeois was born at 5 Rue du Chemin-de-Fer (today
Rue Gaston-Israël ''Ruta graveolens'', commonly known as rue, common rue or herb-of-grace, is a species of ''Ruta'' grown as an ornamental plant and herb. It is native to the Balkan Peninsula. It is grown throughout the world in gardens, especially for its bluis ...
), in
Enghien-les-Bains Enghien-les-Bains () is a commune in the northern suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the centre of Paris, in the département of Val-d'Oise. Enghien-les-Bains is famous as a spa resort and a well-to-do suburb of Paris, developed in ...
, Val-d'Oise, Île-de-France, France. The family moved to Soisy-sous-Montmorency where she spent her childhood; her parents later worked as mattress-makers.Flanner, Janet, ''Paris Journal, Volume Two, 1956—1964'' (Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1965), page 6 At an early age Bourgeois aspired to be an entertainer. She began as a flower seller in a restaurant in her hometown, singing popular ballads as she sold blossoms.


Entertainer

After taking classes in theatre and singing, she began her career as an entertainer in 1885. One day on the train to Paris for a violin lesson, she met Saint-Marcel, who directed the revue at the Casino de Paris. He engaged her first as a stage-hand, and here she began to pursue her goal to become an entertainer, experimenting with various stage-names, being successively Miss Helyett, Miss Tinguette, Mistinguette and, finally, Mistinguett. In the 1880s Mistinguett visited her neighbour Anna Thibaud to ask for advice. Thibaud told her, "To succeed in the theatre ... you must be pretty. You must excite men." Mistinguett asked if she meant that she had to excite the crowds. Thibaud repeated, "No, the men!" Bourgeois made her debut as Mistinguett at the Casino de Paris in 1895 and went on to appear in venues such as the Folies Bergère, Moulin Rouge and
Eldorado El Dorado (, ; Spanish for "the golden"), originally ''El Hombre Dorado'' ("The Golden Man") or ''El Rey Dorado'' ("The Golden King"), was the term used by the Spanish in the 16th century to describe a mythical tribal chief (''zipa'') or king o ...
. Her risqué routines captivated Paris, and she went on to become the most popular French entertainer of her time and the highest-paid female entertainer in the world, known for her flamboyance and a zest for the theatrical. In 1919, her legs were insured for 500,000 Francs. Though Mistinguett never married, she had a son, Leopoldo João de Lima e Silva, born in 1901, from a liaison she had with a Brazilian diplomat,
Leopoldo José de Lima e Silva Leopoldo is a given name, the Italian, Spanish, and Portuguese form of the English, German, Dutch, Polish, and Slovene name, Leopold. Notable people with the name include: *Leopoldo de' Medici (1617–1675), Italian cardinal and Governor of ...
(1872-1931). She also had a long relationship with
Maurice Chevalier Maurice Auguste Chevalier (; 12 September 1888 – 1 January 1972) was a French singer, actor and entertainer. He is perhaps best known for his signature songs, including " Livin' In The Sunlight", " Valentine", "Louise", " Mimi", and "Thank Hea ...
, 13 years her junior. It is claimed that she and Chevalier informed the police in 1940 that singer-songwriter Charles Trenet was gay and consorting with youths. She first recorded her signature song, "
Mon Homme "Mon Homme" (),also known by its English translation, "My Man", is a popular song first published in 1920. The song was originally composed by Maurice Yvain with French lyrics by Jacques-Charles (Jacques Mardochée Charles) and Albert Willemetz ...
", in 1916. It was popularised under its English title "My Man" by
Fanny Brice Fania Borach (October 29, 1891 – May 29, 1951), known professionally as Fanny Brice or Fannie Brice, was an American comedienne, illustrated song model, singer, and theater and film actress who made many stage, radio, and film appearances. S ...
and has become a standard in the
repertoire A repertoire () is a list or set of dramas, operas, musical compositions or roles which a company or person is prepared to perform. Musicians often have a musical repertoire. The first known use of the word ''repertoire'' was in 1847. It is a l ...
of numerous pop and jazz singers. During a tour of the United States, Mistinguett was asked by '' Time'' magazine to explain her popularity. Her answer was, "It is a kind of magnetism. I say 'Come closer' and draw them to me."


Death

Mistinguett died in Bougival, France, at the age of 82, attended by her son, a doctor.In addition to her son she was survived by two grandchildren, Francisco de Lima e Silva (also a diplomat) and
Maria Helena de Lima e Silva Maria may refer to: People * Mary, mother of Jesus * Maria (given name), a popular given name in many languages Place names Extraterrestrial *170 Maria, a Main belt S-type asteroid discovered in 1877 *Lunar maria (plural of ''mare''), large, da ...
.
She is buried in the Cimetière
Enghien-les-Bains Enghien-les-Bains () is a commune in the northern suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the centre of Paris, in the département of Val-d'Oise. Enghien-les-Bains is famous as a spa resort and a well-to-do suburb of Paris, developed in ...
, Île-de-France, France. Upon her death, writer Jean Cocteau observed in an obituary,
"Her voice, slightly off-key, was that of the Parisian street hawkers—the husky, trailing voice of the Paris people. She was of the animal race that owes nothing to
intellectualism Intellectualism is the mental perspective that emphasizes the use, the development, and the exercise of the intellect; and also identifies the life of the mind of the intellectual person. (Definition) In the field of philosophy, the term ''intell ...
. She incarnated herself. She flattered a French patriotism that was not shameful. It is normal now that she should crumble, like the other
caryatids A caryatid ( or or ; grc, Καρυᾶτις, pl. ) is a sculpted female figure serving as an architectural support taking the place of a column or a pillar supporting an entablature on her head. The Greek term ''karyatides'' literally means "ma ...
of that great and marvelous epoch that was ours".


Gallery

File:Mistinguett-Affiche.jpg, Mistinguett poster, 1911 File:Mistinguett in shop.jpg, Mistinguett in the United States in 1924 File:Poster Mistinguett Moulin Rouge.jpg, Poster ''Mistinguett Moulin Rouge'', by Charles Gesmar, 1926 File:Mistinguett - Josephine Baker, 1927.jpg, Mistinguett and Josephine Baker in 1927 File:Mistinguett sur sa chrysler, Deauville.jpg, Mistinguett in her Chrysler, Deauville, France, 1929


Filmography

* ''Carosello del varietà'' (1955) * ''
Paris 1900 The 1900 Summer Olympics (french: Jeux olympiques d'été de 1900, link=no), today officially known as the Games of the II Olympiad () and also known as Paris 1900, were an international multi-sport event that took place in Paris, France, from 1 ...
'' (1947) * ''Rigolboche'' (1936) .... Lina Bourget * '' Island of Love'' (1929) * ''Mistinguett détective II'' (1917) * ''Mistinguett détective'' (1917) * '' Flower of Paris'' (1916) .... Margot Panard et Mistinguett * ''Sous la menace'' (1916) * ''
The Gold Chignon ''The Gold Chignon'' (French:''Chignon d'or'') is a 1916 French silent film directed by André Hugon and starring Mistinguett and Harry Baur.Rège p.511 Cast * Mistinguett as Mistinguett * Harry Baur Harry Baur (12 April 1880 – 8 April 194 ...
'' (1916) * ''Doppia ferita, La'' (1915) * ''Valse renversante, La'' (1914) * ''Misérables – Époque 4: Cosette et Marius, Les'' (1913) .... Éponine * ''Misérables – Époque 3: Cosette, Les'' (1913) .... Éponine * ''Misérables – Époque 2: Fantine, Les'' (1913) .... Éponine Thénardier * ''Misérables – Époque 1: Jean Valjean, Les'' (1913) .... Éponine Thénardier * ''Glu, La'' (1913) .... Fernande, dite 'La Glu' * ''Une bougie récalcitrante'' (1912) * ''Parapluie, Le'' (1912) * ''Vocation de Lolo, La'' (1912) * ''À bas les hommes'' (1912) * ''Bal costumé'' (1912) * ''Coup de foudre, Le'' (1912) * ''Folle de Penmarch, La'' (1912) .... Yvonne ... aka ''Folle de Pen-March, La (France) * ''Moche, La'' (1912) * ''L'Oubliée, L'' (1912) * ''Un enfant terrible'' (1912) * ''Clown et le pacha, Le'' (1911) * ''Épouvante, L (1911) .... La star de music-hall ... aka ''Terror-Stricken'' (UK) * ''Ruse de Miss Plumcake, La'' (1911) .... Miss Plumcake * ''Timidités de Rigadin, Les'' (1910) .... La fiancée de Rigadin * ''Ce bon docteur'' (1909) * ''L'Enlèvement de Mademoiselle Biffin'' (1909) * ''Un mari qui l'échappe belle'' (1909) * ''Fiancée récalcitrante, La'' (1909) * ''Fleur de pavé'' (1909) * ''L'Empreinte ou La main rouge'' (1908)


References

''Paris Journal'' was written by Janet Flanner, Paris writer for the ''New Yorker'', 1925–1975.


External links

* *
Mistinguett by Lenci, c.1924Photographs and literature
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mistinguett 1875 births 1956 deaths People from Enghien-les-Bains French stage actresses French women singers Cabaret singers French silent film actresses French film actresses French vedettes 19th-century French actresses 20th-century French actresses Moulin Rouge