Josette Andriot (23 August 1886 – 13 May 1942) was a French film actress of the

silent film A silent film is a film with no synchronized Sound recording and reproduction, recorded sound (or more generally, no audible dialogue). Though silent films convey narrative and emotion visually, various plot elements (such as a setting or era) ...

era, best known for playing the role of Protéa in the series of espionage films made between 1913 and 1919. She was born Camille-Élisa Andriot on 23 August 1886, in Paris (20^e), the fifth of six children whose father was a dyer and their mother a florist. (Her youngest brother

Lucien Andriot Lucien Andriot ASC (1892–1979) was a prolific French-American cinematographer. He shot more than 200 films and television programs over the course of his career. Life and work Born in Paris, Andriot began his career in France in 1909 workin ...

892-1979became a noted cinematographer.) She joined the

Éclair An éclair (, ; ) is a pastry made with choux dough filled with a cream and topped with a flavored icing. The dough, which is the same as that used for profiterole, is typically piped into an oblong shape with a pastry bag and baked until it ...

studios as an actress first in 1909, and then from 1911 she made around 60 films exclusively for that studio. She had no theatrical training, and the skills that she brought to the film studio were those of an accomplished sportswoman in riding, cycling, and swimming. She proved to be a natural actress.Jacques Deslandes. "Victorin-Hippolyte Jasset 1862-1913", in ''Anthologie du cinéma: supplement no.85'' (Paris: Avant-Scène Cinéma, 1975) p.272-273. Her early films were made principally with the director

Victorin-Hippolyte Jasset Victorin-Hippolyte Jasset (30 March 1862 - 22 June 1913) was an early film pioneer in France, active between the years 1905 and 1913. He worked on many genres of film and was particularly associated with the development of detective or crime Seri ...

, for whom she became a favourite performer. In his ''Zigomar'' series, she played Rosaria, the title-character's accomplice, forever escaping from threatening predicaments. In 1913 Jasset made ''Protéa'', a spy adventure with the distinction of being the first to have a woman as the central action figure. The film had considerable success, and Andriot went on to make four more films in the series with other directors. After the last one was released in 1919, she retired from acting. She died on 13 May 1942 in Antibes. Her appeal rested on her physical ability as a woman of action and her cool resourcefulness. "Whatever this most dauntless of women dares to do, she undertakes it with a smile on her lips": the observation of a reviewer in 1913.''Film-Revue'', fév.1913, quoted in Jacques Deslandes. "Victorin-Hippolyte Jasset 1862-1913", in ''Anthologie du cinéma: supplement no.85'' (Paris: Avant-Scène Cinéma, 1975) p.272: "Tout ce que peut oser la plus intrépide des femmes, elle l'entreprend le sourire aux lèvres". In her role as Protéa, she also wore a characteristic costume of a close-fitting black jersey, two years before

Musidora Jeanne Roques (23 February 1889 – 11 December 1957), known professionally as Musidora, was a French actress, film director, and writer. She is best known for her acting in silent films, and rose to public attention for roles in the Loui ...

achieved cult status with her similar appearance as Irma Vep in Feuillade's ''

Les Vampires ''Les Vampires'' is a 1915–16 French silent crime serial film written and directed by Louis Feuillade. Set in Paris, it stars Édouard Mathé, Musidora and Marcel Lévesque. The main characters are a journalist and his friend who become invol ...

''.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Andriot, Josette French film actresses French silent film actresses Actresses from Paris 1886 births 1942 deaths 20th-century French actresses