Zizi Jeanmaire
Born: 1924-04-29 in Paris, France
Died: 2020-07-17
Known For: Acting
Biography
Zizi Jeanmaire (born Renée Marcelle Jeanmaire; 29 April 1924 – 17 July 2020) was a French ballet dancer, actress and singer. She was the widow of renowned dancer and choreographer Roland Petit. She became famous in the 1950s after playing the title role in the ballet Carmen, produced in London in 1949, and went on to appear in several Hollywood films. She and Petit had one daughter, Valentine Petit, a dancer and actress. Jeanmaire is mentioned in the lyrics of the song by Peter Sarstedt, "Where Do You Go To (My Lovely)?", in the first line: "You talk like Marlene Dietrich, and you dance like Zizi Jeanmaire / Your clothes are all made by Balmain and there's diamonds and pearls in your hair". She is also mentioned in the lyrics of the song by Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel, "Nothing is Sacred", from their album Timeless Flight: "I said: "Zizi Jeanmaire wouldn't take this and neither will we / if they call me Napoleon again I'll be forced to let the lion free".
Filmography
2010
- L'Amour Fou as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
1998
- Sternstunde Kunst as Self
1987
- Sacrée Soirée as Self
- Le monde est à vous as Self
1985
- That's Dancing! as From 'Hans Christian Andersen' (archive footage)
1982
- Champs-Elysées as Self
1980
- Carmen as Carmen
1975
- Numéro un as Self
1972
- Le Grand Échiquier as Self
- Midi trente as Self
1971
- Great Performances as Self
- Cadet Rousselle as Self
1968
- À bout portant as Self
- Night-Club as Self
1964
- Der goldene Schuß as Self
1961
- Black Tights as The Gold Digger / Carmen
1959
- Discorama as Self
- The Bell Telephone Hour as Self
- Guinguette as Renée aka Guinguette
1957
- Too Many Lovers as Lulu Natier
1956
- Cinépanorama as Self
- Anything Goes as Gaby Duval
- An Evening at the Music Hall as Claudie
1952
- Hans Christian Andersen as Doro
1948
- The Ed Sullivan Show as Self