Françoise Blanchard

Françoise Denise Aline Blanchard (6 June 1954 – 24 May 2013) Blanchard had collaborated with Rollin on several occasions in films Les trottoirs de Bangkok, À la poursuite de Barbara (1991) and La nuit des horloges (2007). She had worked frequently with directors Richard Balducci and Jesús Franco. She was also known for her work as a voice artist, having dubbed films, such as, Robert Altman's Popeye (1980), The NeverEnding Story III (1994) and Hackers (1995), and animated television series, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Totally Spies!

Career Blanchard's career stretched from between the late 1970s until the early 1990s. She may have been best known for playing Catherine Valmont in 1982 horror La Morte Vivante (The Living Dead Girl), a film from Jean Rollin.

She also appeared in films by directors Jess Franco and Bruno Mattei. She recalled her career in an interview, which was featured on the Encore release of La Morte Vivante, she mentioned that it was a tragedy and a coincidence that started her career in the late 1970s. While trying to make ends meet as a hand model, she lost her brother in the late 1970. Around that same time she was offered her first role, coincidentally as someone who had also lost a family member. Françoise approached the part skeptically as she remembered that at that time she was, "aggressive against people but also a bit confused" due to the death of her brother. She enjoyed the experience and took a serious interest in acting, so decided to take acting lessons afterwards.

Blanchard soon became involved in several B movies when her career quickly became intertwined with the legendary Eurocine company. "I liked the feel of these B movies, especially horror", Françoise noted to Encore, which perhaps explains why she became so popular to several of the most noteworthy genre directors of the late 1970s. She also mentioned that she didn't mind nudity and even went so far as to pose for Lui Magazine in the early 1980s. After several films directors such as Pierre Chevalier, Françoise took a role in Bruno Mattei's Caligula and Messalina in 1981. The following year she appeared in Jess Franco's Revenge In The House Of Usher, and she liked Franco and admired his creativity and fire.

She then appeared in the La Morte Vivante with Rollin. The night shoot on the film was mostly difficult and there were many problems with the special effects but, despite some disagreements, she liked and admired Rollin and admitted to Encore that, "he is really nice and is very much there". She enjoyed working with and admired her co-star in the film, Italian actress Marina Pierro, and noted, "she is very maternal with me." Françoise worked again with Rollin in Les Trottoirs De Bangkok (The Sidewalks Of Bangkok), a film which she had a lot of fun making, and she appeared in his newest film production La nuit des horloges (The Night of Clocks) opposite Ovidie.

Death Blanchard died on 24 May 2013, twelve days before her 59th birthday. The cause of death was not disclosed.

Filmography + Film Year Title Role 1976 Sexuella (unnamed / unknown role) 1979 Les joyeuses colonies de vacances L'infirmière 1980 Une si jolie petite fille Françoise 1980 Une maison bien tranquille (unnamed / unknown role) 1981 Caligula et Messaline Agrippina / Caligula's sister 1981 Les brigades roses (unnamed / unknown role) 1981 La maison Tellier La veuve 1982 L'oasis des filles perdues Annie 1982 Nerone e Poppea poppea 1982 N'oublie pas ton père au vestiaire... Juliette 1982 Les p'tites têtes Paloma 1982 La morte vivante (The Living Dead Girl) Catherine Valmont 1983 Revenge in the House of Usher Melissa 1983 On l'appelle Catastrophe La fille 1983 L'émir préfère les blondes Sylvie 1984 Vénus Annie 1984 Les trottoirs de Bangkok (The Sidewalks of Bangkok) Claudine 1985 Y'a pas le feu... Juliette 1985 Le facteur de Saint-Tropez Maria Ficelle 1986 Les amazones du temple d'or Blonde Amazon 1986 Sida, la peste del siglo XX (unnamed / unknown role) 1987 Manières d'amour Françoise 1991 À la poursuite de Barbara (unnamed / unknown role) 1997 Alliance cherche doigt La femme de Chaneloup 2007 La nuit des horloges (The Night of the Clocks) Lethal

+ Voice work Year Title Role Notes 1980 Popeye Olive Oyl French dub (played by Shelley Duvall) 1989–91 Babar Unnamed role Seasons 1, 3 & 4 (3 episodes) 1991 Lucky Luke Coyotito Season 2 (6 episodes) 1991 Bucky O'Hare and the Toad Wars Unnamed role Season 1, Episode 1 (French dub) 1991 Little Dracula Unnamed role Unknown episode(s) (French dub) 1991–92 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Unnamed role "Michaelangelo Meets Mondo Gecko" "Rock Around the Block" 1992 Souris souris Unnamed role Unknown episodes(s) 1994 The NeverEnding Story III Jane Bux French Dub (played by Tracey Ellis) 1995 Hackers Margo Wallace French Dub (played by Lorraine Bracco) 1995 Pride and Prejudice Caroline Bingley French dub; BBC miniseries (played by Anna Chancellor) 1996–97 Poil de carotte Remi / Agathe Unknown episode(s) 1997 Michel Strogoff Sangarre la Bohémienne Miniseries (10 episodes) 2000 Dracula: Resurrection Dorko/Mina Video game 2000 Les globulyss Unnamed role Unknown episode(s) 2000 Dracula 2: The Last Sanctuary Dorko/Mina Video game 2003–04 Martin Mystery Unnamed role "Terror from the Sky" "Return of the Dark Druid" 2006 Team Galaxy Mrs. Roskoff Unknown episode(s) 2009–10 The Amazing Spiez! Unnamed role "Operation Dyno-might!" "Operation Trudy on Duty" 2004–13 Totally Spies! Unnamed role "Physics 101 Much?" "The Anti-Social Network"