
Zizi Jeanmaire
Born
April 29, 1924
Died
July 17, 2020 (96 years old)
Known For
Acting
Place of Birth
Paris, France
Zizi Jeanmaire (born Renée Marcelle Jeanmaire; 29 April 1924 – 17 July 2020) was a French ballet dancer, actress and singer. She was the widow of renowned dancer and choreographer Roland Petit. 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.
She and Petit had one daughter, Valentine Petit, a dancer and actress.
Jeanmaire is mentioned in the lyrics of the song by Peter Sarstedt, "Where Do You Go To (My Lovely)?", in the first line: "You talk like Marlene Dietrich, and you dance like Zizi Jeanmaire / Your clothes are all made by Balmain and there's diamonds and pearls in your hair".
She is also mentioned in the lyrics of the song by Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel, "Nothing is Sacred", from their album Timeless Flight: "I said: "Zizi Jeanmaire wouldn't take this and neither will we / if they call me Napoleon again I'll be forced to let the lion free".

L'Amour Fou
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
2010

Le monde est à vous
Self · (3 episodes)
1987

Sacrée soirée
Self · (2 episodes)
1987

That's Dancing!
From 'Hans Christian Andersen' (archive footage)
1985

Champs-Elysées
Self · (4 episodes)
1982

Carmen
Carmen
1980

Numéro un
Self · (2 episodes)
1975

Numéro un
Self - Host · (1 episode)
1975
Midi trente
Self · (1 episode)
1972

Le Grand Échiquier
Self · (1 episode)
1972

Le Grand Échiquier
Self - Main Guest · (1 episode)
1972

Cadet Rousselle
Self · (1 episode)
1971

Great Performances
Self · (1 episode)
1971

À bout portant
Self · (1 episode)
1968
Night-Club
Self · (1 episode)
1968

Omnibus
Self · (1 episode)
1967
Europarty
Self · (1 episode)
1967
Der goldene Schuß
Self · (1 episode)
1964

Black Tights
The Gold Digger / Carmen
1961

Guinguette
Renée aka Guinguette
1959

Discorama
Self · (2 episodes)
1959
The Bell Telephone Hour
Self · (1 episode)
1959

Too Many Lovers
Lulu Natier
1957

An Evening at the Music Hall
Claudie
1956

Anything Goes
Gaby Duval
1956

Cinépanorama
Self · (2 episodes)
1956

Hans Christian Andersen
Doro
1952

The Ed Sullivan Show
Self · (3 episodes)
1948