Armande-Grésinde-Claire-Élisabeth Béjart (; 1645 – 30 November 1700) was a French stage actress, also known under her stage name Mademoiselle Molière.
[Scott, Virginia (2010). ]
Women on the stage in early modern France : 1540-1750
''. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. . She was married to
Molière
Jean-Baptiste Poquelin (; 15 January 1622 (baptised) – 17 February 1673), known by his stage name Molière (, ; ), was a French playwright, actor, and poet, widely regarded as one of the great writers in the French language and world liter ...
, and was one of the most famous actresses in the 17th-century.
Life
She was the daughter of
Madeleine Béjart and belonged to the
Béjart family, a famous theatre family in 17th-century France.
In 1643 her mother Madeleine co-founded, with
Molière
Jean-Baptiste Poquelin (; 15 January 1622 (baptised) – 17 February 1673), known by his stage name Molière (, ; ), was a French playwright, actor, and poet, widely regarded as one of the great writers in the French language and world liter ...
, the theatre company called
Illustre Théâtre.
Together, they had three children: Louis (19 January11 November 1664), Marie Madeleine Esprit (3 August 166523 May 1723) and Pierre Jean-Baptiste Armand (15 September11 October 1672).
Early career
She played her first important role in
Molière's company in June 1663, as Élise in the ''Critique de l'école des femmes''. She was out of the cast for a short time in 1664, when she had a son with Molière, with
Louis XIV and
Henrietta of England standing sponsors to the child. Her mother had a relationship with Molière, which likely continued after her marriage to him.
In the spring, beginning with the fêtes at
Versailles
The Palace of Versailles ( ; ) is a former royal residence commissioned by King Louis XIV located in Versailles, Yvelines, Versailles, about west of Paris, in the Yvelines, Yvelines Department of Île-de-France, Île-de-France region in Franc ...
given by the king to
Anne of Austria
Anne of Austria (; ; born Ana María Mauricia; 22 September 1601 – 20 January 1666) was Queen of France from 1615 to 1643 by marriage to King Louis XIII. She was also Queen of Navarre until the kingdom's annexation into the French crown ...
and
Maria Theresa of Spain, she started her long list of important roles. She was at her best as Celimène, really her own highly finished portrait, in ''
Le Misanthrope'', and just as admirable as Angélique in ''
Le Malade imaginaire''. She was the Elmire at the first performance of ''
Tartuffe'', and the Lucile of ''Le Bourgeois gentilhomme''.
All these parts were written by her husband to display her talents to the best advantage, and she made the most of her opportunities.
Neither was happy; the wife was a flirt, the husband jealous. On the strength of a scurrilous anonymous pamphlet, ''La Fameuse Comédienne, ou histoire de la Guérin'' (1688), her character was slandered. She was certainly guilty of indifference and ingratitude, possibly of infidelity; they separated after the birth of a daughter in 1665, and met only at the theatre until 1671. But Molière too could not resist the charm and grace which fascinated others, and they were reconciled.
Later career
After Molière's death, the secession of Baron and several other actors, the rivalry of the
Hôtel de Bourgogne and the development of the
Palais-Royal, by royal patent, into the home of French
opera
Opera is a form of History of theatre#European theatre, Western theatre in which music is a fundamental component and dramatic roles are taken by Singing, singers. Such a "work" (the literal translation of the Italian word "opera") is typically ...
, she brought together actors from the
Théâtre du Palais-Royal
The Théâtre du Palais-Royal () is a 750-seat Parisian theatre at 38 rue de Montpensier, located at the northwest corner of the Palais-Royal in the Galerie de Montpensier at its intersection with the Galerie de Beaujolais.
Brief history
O ...
and the
Théâtre du Marais to form the
Théâtre Guénégaud on 23 May 1673. The combination, known as the ''troupe du roi'', at first was unfortunate, but in 1679 they secured
Mlle du Champmeslé, later absorbed the company of the Hôtel de Bourgogne, and in 1680, 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 ...
was born.
On 31 May 1677, she married her second husband, the actor Eustache François Guérin (1636–1728), and had one son (1678–1708) by him. She became a
Sociétaire of 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 ...
, as a member of its pioneer troupe of actors in 1680 (see
Troupe of the Comédie-Française in 1680 Composition of the troupe of the Comédie-Française in 1680
As of 24 August 1680, La Grange (actor), La Grange set in his register:
:« ''Jonction de la Troupe Royalle cy-devant à l'Hôtel de Bourgogne (theatre), hostel de bourgogne avec Guén� ...
).
Retirement
She retired 14 October 1694 with a pension of 1000 pounds. Three years after the death of Molière, Armande paid 5400 pounds for a house in
Meudon
Meudon () is a French Communes of France, commune located in the Hauts-de-Seine Departments of France, department in the Île-de-France Regions of France, region, on the left bank of the Seine. It is located from the Kilometre Zero, center of P ...
a suburb of Paris. This house had previously been owned by the surgeon
Ambroise Paré from 1550. She lived there with her second husband, until her death on 30 November 1700. Her house is now the Museum of Art and History of Meudon.
Ville de Meudon's website
.
Legacy
Her portrait is given in a well-known scene (Act iii., sc. 9) in '' Le Bourgeois gentilhomme''.
Notes
;Attribution
*
Sources
* Madeleine Jurgens et Elisabeth Maxfield-Miller, ''Cent ans de recherches sur Molière, sur sa famille et sur les comédiens de sa troupe'', Paris, Archives nationales, 1963.
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bejart, Armande
1640s births
1700 deaths
17th-century French actresses
French stage actresses
Sociétaires of the Comédie-Française