Loleh Bellon

Marie Laure Viole Bellon, commonly recognized as Loleh Bellon, was a distinguished French actress and playwright born on May 14, 1925, in Bayonne. She carved a notable career in both theater and film until her passing on May 22, 1999, in Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, near Paris.

Bellon made her stage debut in 1945 with J.B. Priestley’s *Dangerous Corner* and soon gained acclaim for her role in Robert Desnos' *La Place de l'Étoile*, earning the Prix des Jeunes comédiens in 1949. She became renowned for her performances in works by celebrated playwrights such as Giraudoux’s *Judith* and Claudel’s *L'Annonce faite à Marie*.

Transitioning to film in the late 1940s, she gained recognition for her role as Marie in Louis Daquin’s *Le Point du jour* (1949), and continued to collaborate with Daquin on *The Perfume of the Lady in Black* and *Maître après Dieu*. Her sister, the director Yannick Bellon, helped her secure roles in films like *Quelque part quelqu’un* (1972) and *Jamais plus toujours* (1976).

In addition to acting, Bellon achieved success as a playwright with significant works including *Les Dames du jeudi* (1976), for which she received the Ibsen Prize, and *L'Éloignement* (1987), which won her the prestigious Molière Prize. Her later plays, *Une absence* (1988) and *La Chambre d'amis* (1995), further solidified her stature in the theatrical world. Bellon’s contributions to French culture remain influential and celebrated.