Zizi Jeanmaire

Renée Marcelle "Zizi" Jeanmaire (29 April 1924 – 17 July 2020) was a French ballet dancer, actress and singer. 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 and Paris revues. She was the wife of dancer and choreographer Roland Petit, who created ballets and revues for her.

Career Jeanmaire was born in Paris to Olga Renée (née Brunus) and Marcel Jeanmaire. She later wrote in her autobiography: "When I was little my mother called me 'mon Jésus' which transformed into 'mon Zizi'."

Jeanmaire appeared in film again in 1956, in Cole Porter's Anything Goes with Bing Crosby, She performed the song in a dress by Yves Saint Laurent, who became her chief designer for stage and private clothes, and a friend. The number, with twelve young men carrying pink feather fans, became a signature tune and was repeated in other revues by Petit,

Jeanmaire died in Switzerland

Cultural references Jeanmaire is mentioned in the lyrics of the song by Peter Sarstedt, "Where Do You Go To (My Lovely)?": "You talk like Marlene Dietrich, and you dance like Zizi Jeanmaire". She is also mentioned in the Steve Harley song "Nothing Is Sacred" which contains the lyrics, "Zizi Jeanmaire wouldn't take this and neither will we".

Filmography Hans Christian Andersen (1952) as Lulu Natier Guinguette (1959) as Renée dit 'Guinguette' Black Tights (1961)