Mireille Darc (French: [miʁɛj daʁk]; 15 May 1938 – 28 August 2017)[2] was a French model and actress. She appeared as a lead character in Jean-Luc Godard's 1967 film Weekend. Darc was a Knight of the Legion of Honour and Commander of the National Order of Merit. Alain Delon was her longtime co-star and companion.

Mireille Darc
Darc in 1968
Born
Mireille Christiane Gabrielle Aimée Aigroz

(1938-05-15)15 May 1938
Toulon, France
Died28 August 2017(2017-08-28) (aged 79)
Paris, France
Resting placeMontparnasse Cemetery, Paris, France
OccupationActress
Years active1960–2012
Height1.72 m (5 ft 7+12 in)[1]
Spouse
Pascal Desprez
(m. 1996)
PartnerAlain Delon (1968–1983)
Websitemireille-darc.com

Early years edit

Born Mireille Christiane Gabrielle Aimée Aigroz in Toulon,[2] she attended the Conservatory of Dramatic Arts in Toulon and moved to Paris in 1959.

Career edit

 
Darc in 2010

Darc's debuted in Claude Barma's television drama Du côté de l'enfer (aka, La Grande Brétèche, 1960). Her first leading role came in another production for French television, Jean Prat's Hauteclaire (1961). She starred in Jean-Luc Godard's film Weekend (Week-end, 1967)[3] as Corinne, her highest profile role for international critics; as Christine in The Tall Blond Man with One Black Shoe (Le Grand Blond avec une chaussure noire, 1972) and The Return of the Tall Blond Man with One Black Shoe (Le retour du grand blond, 1974) and alongside Alain Delon and Louis de Funès in several films: Pouic-Pouic (1963), High Lifers (Les Bons Vivants (1965), Jeff (1969), Borsalino (uncredited, 1970), The Love Mates (Madly, 1970), Icy Breasts (Les Seins de glace, 1974), Death of a Corrupt Man (Mort d'un pourri, 1977), Man in a Hurry (L'Homme pressé, 1977), and the television series Frank Riva [fr] (2003).

In the 1980s, Darc's career was interrupted by open-heart surgery following a car accident, in which she was seriously injured, and her separation from Alain Delon after fifteen years together. She quit her film career, but she returned to television in the 1990s. In 2006, French President Jacques Chirac awarded Darc the Legion of Honour.[4]

Health and death edit

 
Darc's tomb in Section 11 of Montparnasse Cemetery, Paris

In 2013, Darc underwent further open heart surgery, and during 2016 she suffered several hemorrhages. She died on 28 August 2017 in Paris in a coma at the age of 79.[5]

Theatre edit

Year Play Author Director Theatre
2007 Sur la route de Madison Robert James Waller Anne Bourgeois Théâtre Marigny
1984 Chapitre II Neil Simon Pierre Mondy Théâtre Édouard VII
1965 Pieds nus dans le parc Neil Simon Pierre Mondy Théâtre de la Madeleine
1964 Photo-Finish Peter Ustinov Peter Ustinov Théâtre des Ambassadeurs
1962 Les Femmes aussi ont perdu la guerre Curzio Malaparte Raymond Gérôme Théâtre des Mathurins

Filmography edit

Feature films edit

Year Title Director Role Notes
1960 Les distractions Jacques Dupont Maïa
1961 Please, Not Now! Roger Vadim Marie-Jeanne
Mourir d'amour José Bénazéraf, Dany Fog [fr] Mariette
Les Nouveaux Aristocrates Francis Rigaud Milou Rivoire
¿Pena de muerte? José María Forn Lina
1962 The Devil and the Ten Commandments Julien Duvivier Une amie de Mauricette (deleted segment "L'oeuvre de chair ne désireras qu'en mariage seulement"), Uncredited
Virginie Jean Boyer Brigitte
1963 People in Luck Philippe de Broca, Jean Girault, Jack Pinoteau Jacqueline (segment "Le manteau de vison")
Pouic-Pouic Jean Girault Patricia Monestier
1964 Monsieur Jean-Paul Le Chanois Suzanne
Salad by the Roots Georges Lautner Rockie La Braise
Les Durs à cuire [fr] Jack Pinoteau Josette
Male Hunt Edouard Molinaro Georgina
The Great Spy Chase Georges Lautner Amaranthe
1965 Les Bons Vivants Gilles Grangier, Georges Lautner Marie Cruchet known as "Eloise" (segment "Bons vivants, Les")
1966 Galia [fr] Georges Lautner Galia
The Upper Hand Denys de La Patellière Lili Princesse
Balearic Caper José María Forqué Polly
Ne nous fâchons pas [fr] Georges Lautner Eglantine Michalon
Living It Up Pierre Gaspard-Huit Eva Ritter
1967 La Grande Sauterelle [fr] Georges Lautner Salene
Casino Royale John Huston Jag Uncredited
The Blonde from Peking Nicolas Gessner Christine Olsen
Fleur d'oseille [fr] Georges Lautner Catherine
Weekend Jean-Luc Godard Corinne Durand
1968 Summit [fr] Giorgio Bontempi [fr] Annie
1969 Jeff Jean Herman Eva
Monte Carlo or Bust! Ken Annakin Marie-Claude
1970 Elle boit pas, elle fume pas, elle drague pas, mais... elle cause ! Michel Audiard Francine
Borsalino Jacques Deray Prostitute Uncredited
Madly Roger Kahane [fr] Agatha
1971 Fantasia chez les ploucs Gérard Pirès Caroline
Laisse aller... c'est une valse [fr] Georges Lautner Carla
1972 Il était une fois un flic [fr] Georges Lautner Christine
L'Humeur vagabonde Édouard Luntz
Le Grand Blond avec une chaussure noire Yves Robert Christine
1973 Il n'y a pas de fumée sans feu André Cayatte Olga Leroy
La Valise [fr] Georges Lautner Françoise
1974 OK patron [fr] Claude Vital [fr] Mélissa
Les Seins de glace Georges Lautner Peggy Lister
Borsalino & Co Jacques Deray prostitute in the street Uncredited
Dis-moi que tu m'aimes Michel Boisrond Victoire Danois
Le retour du grand blond Yves Robert Christine
1975 Le Téléphone rose [fr] Édouard Molinaro Christine
1976 L'Ordinateur des pompes funèbres Gérard Pirès Charlotte
1977 The Passengers Serge Leroy Nicole
Man in a Hurry Édouard Molinaro Edwige
Mort d'un pourri Georges Lautner Françoise
1978 Les Ringards Robert Pouret Annie Garmiche
1981 Pour la peau d'un flic Alain Delon La Grande sauterelle Uncredited
1982 Jamais avant le mariage Daniel Ceccaldi Elisabeth
1983 L'Été de nos 15 ans Marcel Jullian Hotel customer Uncredited
Si elle dit oui... je ne dis pas non Claude Vital Catherine
1984 Réveillon chez Bob Édouard Molinaro Madeleine
1986 La Vie dissolue de Gérard Floque Georges Lautner Jocelyne Domange

Short films edit

Year Title Director Role
1962 Lettres de Provins Jean Dasque Voice only
1960 La Revenante Jacques Poitrenaud

As director edit

Year Title Featuring
1989 La Barbare Murray Head

French-language dubbing edit

Year Title Actress
1963 L’Ile aux Filles Perdues Marisa Belli
1963 Foudres sur Babylone Jose Greci
1962 L’Effroyable secret du Dr Hichcock Barbara Steele
1961 Soliman le Magnifique Georgia Moll
1961 Les Vikings Attaquent Franca Bettoja
1961 Le Boucanier des Iles ( Il Giustiziere dei Mari ) Marisa Belli
1960 L'Esclave du Pharaon Vira Silenti
1960 Les Légions de Cléopâtre Linda Cristal
1960 Le Géant de Thessalie Ziva Rodann
1960 Toryok la furie des Barbares Ljubica Jovic
1958 La Charge des Cosaques Georgia Moll

Bibliography edit

  • 2008: Mon Père
  • 2005: Tant que battra mon coeur (Autobiography)
  • 1982: Jamais avant le mariage

Decorations edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Mireille Darc Biography". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
  2. ^ a b "Mireille Darc". AlloCiné. Archived from the original on 13 February 2013. Retrieved 29 July 2009.
  3. ^ "Week End - Jean-Luc Godard Film Movie Review". www.metalasylum.com. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
  4. ^ "Biography". Mireille DARC. Retrieved 28 August 2017.
  5. ^ "French film star Mireille Darc is dead". Spiegel Online (in German). 28 August 2017. Retrieved 28 August 2017.
  6. ^ "ORDRE NATIONAL DE LA LÉGION D'HONNEUR : Décret du 31 décembre 2015 portant élévation à la dignité de grand'croix et de grand officier" (PDF). Legiondhonneur.fr. Retrieved 28 August 2017.
  7. ^ Décret du 15 mai 2009

External links edit