Bernhardt, Sarah, originally Sarah-Marie-Henriette Rosine Bernard 1844-1923
French actress

She was born in Paris and entered the Paris Conservatoire in 1859. She made her debut as Iphig�nie at the Com�die-Fran�aise (1862), but attracted little notice and moved to the Od�on, where she played minor parts (1867), and won fame as Zanetto in Fran�ois Copp�e's Le Passant (1869), and as the Queen of Spain in Victor Hugo's Ruy Blas (1872). She was recalled to the Com�die Fran�aise and after 1876 she made frequent appearances in London, the USA and Europe. Her most famous roles include Ph�dre (1877) and Marguerite in La Dame aux cam�lias (1884). In 1882 she married Jacques Daria or Damala (d.1889), a Greek actor, from whom she was divorced shortly afterwards. Her French nationality was restored in 1916. She founded the Th��tre Sarah Bernhardt in 1899. In 1915 she had a leg amputated, but did not abandon the stage. A legendary figure in the theatre world, she was considered to be the greatest trag�dienne of her day.

Bibliography: E Pronier, Une vie au th��tre: Sarah Bernhardt (1942)