Capucine

Germaine Hélène Irène Lefebvre (, 6 January 1928 – 17 March 1990), known by her mononym stage name Capucine , was a French fashion model and actress known for her comedic roles in The Pink Panther and What's New Pussycat? (1965). She appeared in 36 films and 17 television productions between 1948 and 1990.

Early life Capucine was born Germaine Hélène Irène Lefebvre on 6 January 1928 in Saint-Raphaël, Var, France.

In 1945, at age 17, while riding in a carriage in Paris, Lefebvre was noticed by a commercial photographer. Adopting the French name of a flower, "Capucine" (nasturtium, Tropaeolum), she became a fashion model, working for the fashion houses Givenchy and Christian Dior.

Career Early films Capucine made her film debut in Jean Cocteau's The Eagle with Two Heads (1948), in a small, unbilled role. She also appeared in Jacques Becker's Rendezvous in July (1949) and Robert Dhéry's Crazy Show (1949).

She was in Marc-Gilbert Sauvajon's My Friend Sainfoin (1950) and Dhéry's Bernard and the Lion (1951).

After a break of a few years, Capucine appeared in Mademoiselle from Paris (1955) and Frou-Frou (1955).

Rise to fame In 1957, film producer Charles K. Feldman spotted Capucine while she was modeling in New York City. Feldman put her under contract at $150 a week. He brought her to Hollywood to learn English and study acting under Gregory Ratoff. She took the stage name "Capucine", saying, "Two names are interesting and I hope one is interesting."

She signed a seven-year contract with Columbia Pictures in 1958. After unsuccessfully auditioning for the role of Feathers in Rio Bravo (1959), she landed her first English-speaking role in the film Song Without End (1960) with Dirk Bogarde, a biopic of Franz Liszt, where Capucine played Carolyne zu Sayn-Wittgenstein. Producer William Goetz said, "You can teach a girl to act, but nobody can teach her how to look like a princess. You've got to start with a girl who looks like a princess." Bogarde and Capucine had a brief romance on the set and he proposed marriage to her, which she politely turned down. They remained friends for the remainder of her life.

"Every time I get in front of the camera, I think of it as an attractive man I am meeting for the first time," she said in 1960. "I find him demanding and aloof, so I must do all I can to interest him."

In 1960, she was nominated for a Golden Globe Award.

Capucine followed this with North to Alaska (1960), a comedy that had been set up with her in mind by Feldman at 20th Century Fox. She played a French prostitute who becomes the love interest of John Wayne. Directed by Henry Hathaway, it was successful at the box office.

She was then William Holden's love interest in The Lion (1962). During filming, Capucine began a romance with Holden, which led to the end of her romantic relationship with Feldman; however, the producer remained loyal professionally. Feldman announced he would put Capucine in Mary Magdalene and Waltz of the Toreadors, but neither happened.

She moved to Switzerland in 1962.

Blake Edwards cast Capucine in The Pink Panther, playing Inspector Clouseau's wife, who is having an affair with a jewel thief, played by David Niven. It was a huge hit, and led to a number of sequels. In 1964, Capucine said the directors she had learned most from were Edwards and Henry Hathaway.

Capucine was reunited with Holden in The 7th Dawn (1964), produced by Feldman; it was a box office disappointment. Another film she did for Feldman, the comedy What's New Pussycat? (1965), which co-starred Sellers and Peter O'Toole, was far more successful; it was filmed entirely in France.

Capucine was one of several European stars in the anthology Sex Quartet (1966) for Columbia (originally The Queens), then Feldman put her in The Honey Pot (1967), directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz. She was announced for Feldman's Casino Royale, but did not appear in the film.

Feldman died in May 1968, and Capucine's career never regained its former momentum. She inherited the rights to the book Zandy from his estate and sold them to the makers of Zandy's Bride.

Later career Capucine then played what has been called "a series of sexually fluid roles which contributed to her status as a queer icon": and guest-starred on Search (1972), her first TV series.

She supported Jean-Paul Belmondo in the comedy Incorrigible (1975) and Richard Burton in Jackpot, which was ultimately abandoned in 1975.

She appeared on television in Cinéma 16 and La pêche miraculeuse (1976), and had roles in The Con Artists (1976), Per amore (1976), Ecco noi per esempio (1977), Nest of Vipers (1978), From Hell to Victory (1979), Atrocious Tales of Love and Death (1979), Neapolitan Mystery (1979), Arabian Adventure (1979), Jaguar Lives! (1979), and Martin Eden (1979).

Capucine appeared in episodes of Orient Express (1980); Hart to Hart (1982); and Murder, She Wrote (1985), as well as the 1986 miniseries Sins.

She went to Europe to make Les invités (1982), Aphrodite (1982), Trail of the Pink Panther (1982), and Curse of the Pink Panther (1983).

Capucine appears in episodes of Série noire; Voglia di cantare; Murder, She Wrote; Honor Thy Father; Sins; Delirium (1987); My First Forty Years (1987); Gila and Rik (1987); Una verità come un'altra (1989); Quartier nègre (1989); Blaues Blut (1990); and Il giudice istruttore (1990).

Personal life Capucine met Pierre Trabaud on the set of Rendez-vous (1949) and they married the next year. The marriage lasted only eight months, and she never married again. She was the mistress of Charles K. Feldman for many years.

Capucine met actor William Holden in the early 1960s. The two starred in the films The Lion (1962) and The 7th Dawn (1964). They reportedly began a two-year affair, which is alleged to have ended due to Holden's alcoholism. The split was amicable and Capucine and Holden remained friendly until his death in 1981. He left her $50,000 in his will.

Death On 17 March 1990, at age 62, Capucine jumped to her death from her eighth-floor apartment in Lausanne, Vaud, Switzerland, where she had lived for 28 years, having reportedly suffered from illness and depression for some time. The police said an investigation left no doubt that she died by suicide. Neighbours said she had led a reclusive life with her three cats, hardly ever leaving her apartment and spending most of her time reading.

Selected filmography Year Title Role Notes 1948 The Eagle with Two Heads Lady at the buffet Uncredited 1949 Rendez-vous de juillet One of Pierre's friends Uncredited Branquignol A cowgirl Uncredited 1950 My Friend Sainfoin 1951 Bernard and the Lion The baroness Four Red Roses Colette Credited as Valerie Darc 1955 Mademoiselle from Paris Herself Alternative title: Mademoiselle de Paris Frou-Frou One of Arthus the painter's friends Uncredited 1960 Song Without End Princess Carolyne zu Sayn-Wittgenstein North to Alaska Michelle 'Angel' Bonet 1961 The Triumph of Michael Strogoff Tatoa, a Volskaya 1962 Walk on the Wild Side Hallie Gerard The Lion Christine 1963 The Pink Panther Simone Clouseau 1964 The 7th Dawn Dhana Mercier 1965 What's New Pussycat? Renée Lefebvre 1966 Le fate Marta (segment "Fata Marta") 1967 The Honey Pot Princess Dominique1969 Fräulein Doktor Dr. Saforet The Exquisite Cadaver Lucia Fonte Fellini Satyricon Trifena 1971 Red Sun Pepita 1972 Search Silvana Tristano Episode: "The Murrow Disappearance" 1975 Incorrigible Hélène 1975 Jackpot 1976 The Con Artists Belle Duke Alternative titles: Bluff, The Con Man Marina Reggiani, Alberto's wife 1977 Ecco noi per esempio Moglie di Click 1978 Nest of Vipers Amalia Mazzarini 1979 From Hell to Victory Nicole Levine Neapolitan Mystery Sister Angela Arabian Adventure Vahishta Jaguar Lives! Zina Vanacore 1982 Hart to Hart Lily Von Borg Episode: "Hart of Diamonds" Aphrodite Lady Suzanne Stanford Trail of the Pink Panther Lady Simone Lytton 1983 Madam Teufminn Curse of the Pink Panther Lady Simone Lytton 1985 Murder, She Wrote Belle Chaney Episode: "Paint Me a Murder" 1986 Sins Odile Miniseries 1987 Delirium: Photo of Gioia Flora My First Forty Years Princess Caracciolo 1990 Countess von Altenberg