Anne Vernon

Anne Vernon, born Édith Antoinette Alexandrine Vignaud on 9 January 1924 in Saint‑Denis, Seine‑Saint‑Denis, France, is a celebrated French film and television actress whose career spanned the golden age of post‑war cinema. She made her screen debut in the 1948 French‑Belgian production The Murdered Model, playing the supporting role of Irène, and quickly attracted international attention with her striking performance in the British romantic comedy Warning to Wantons (1949). Over the next decade Vernon became a frequent presence in both European and American productions, starring in such varied works as the French drama Thus Finishes the Night (1949), the American film‑noir Shakedown (1950), and the MGM‑British film noir Time Bomb (1953) opposite Glenn Ford. Her versatility allowed her to thrive in comedies like Edward and Caroline (1951), which competed at Cannes, and serious art‑house fare such as the Italian‑French drama General Della Rovere (1959), which won the Golden Lion at Venice. Vernon’s most iconic role came in 1964 when she portrayed Geneviève, the mother of Catherine Deneuve’s character, in Jacques Demy’s musical masterpiece The Umbrellas of Cherbourg, a film that earned the Palme d’Or at Cannes and multiple Academy Award nominations. She continued to work on screen throughout the 1960s, appearing in the erotic drama Therese and Isabelle (1968) before largely withdrawing from film, though she maintained a steady presence on television with numerous series and TV movies until the early 1970s and a brief return in 1995. Anne Vernon’s long‑lasting influence is underscored by her status as one of the last surviving leading ladies of 1940s cinema, celebrated for a career marked by linguistic dexterity, cross‑cultural appeal, and an enduring elegance that continues to inspire contemporary audiences. Her personal life reflected similar depth: she married three times—first to French politician Robert Badinter (1957‑1965), then to director René Gainville (1970‑1975), and finally to Jean‑Pierre Prouteau (1988‑1998). Celebrating her 100th birthday on 9 January 2024, Vernon remains a living testament to the timeless allure of classic French cinema.