French singer and actress born June 10, 1918 in Paris and died April 30, 2015 in Neuilly-sur-Seine. Second wife of American producer Arthur Lesser. Appointed Officer of the Legion of Honor on January 1, 2009.
She began her career singing in a restaurant in Montmartre and quickly became a neighbourhood legend – and famous for snipping off the ends of customers' ties! The feisty chanteuse went on to spearhead the French chanson revival in the post-war years. She built up an international reputation and proved to be a big hit in the States. In the latter years of her career she gradually abandoned music in favour of acting.