Micheline Presle
Born
August 22, 1922
Died
February 21, 2024 (101 years old)
Known For
Acting
Place of Birth
Paris, France
Micheline Presle (born Micheline Nicole Julia Émilienne Chassagne on 22 August 1922) was a French actress. She was sometimes billed as Micheline Prelle. Starting in 1939, she starred in over 50 French and English language films that were made in Hollywood and in France.
Born in Paris, she wanted to be an actress from an early age. She took acting classes in her early teens and made her film debut at the age of fifteen in the 1937 production of La Fessée. In 1938, she was awarded the Prix Suzanne Bianchetti as the most promising young actress in French cinema. Her rise to European stardom, in films such as Devil in the Flesh, led to offers from Hollywood and in 1950, she was signed by 20th Century Fox.
20th Century Fox executives changed Presle's last name to Prell. It was later changed to Prelle after a soap company brought out Prell shampoo. Her first Hollywood production was a starring role opposite John Garfield in the film Under My Skin directed by Jean Negulesco. That same year director Fritz Lang cast her opposite Tyrone Power in the war drama American Guerrilla in the Philippines. In 1950, she became the second wife of American actor William Marshall with whom she had a daughter, Tonie. William Marshall had teamed up with actor Errol Flynn and his production company and in 1951 he directed Flynn and her in the film Adventures of Captain Fabian.
Presle's marriage did not last and she returned to France, divorcing Marshall in 1954. Her career flourished in French films and in 1957 she was a guest on the American Ed Sullivan Show. In 1959 she performed in the United Kingdom English-language production of Blind Date directed by Joseph Losey. She returned to Hollywood in 1962 for the role of Sandra Dee's mother in the Universal Studios film If a Man Answers which also featured Dee's husband, singer Bobby Darin. The following year, Presle acted again in English in The Prize starring Paul Newman. She did not make another English film, but after performing in more than 50 films in French, in 1989 she appeared in the French-made bilingual production I Want to Go Home, for which she was nominated for the César Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role.
In 1971, Presle signed the Manifesto of the 343, publicly declaring she had an illegal abortion.
Presle died in Nogent-sur-Marne on 21 February 2024, at the age of 101, at the Maison des Artistes, a retirement home for artists, which receives partial government support. Her death was confirmed by Olivier Bomsel, her son-in-law, without specifying the cause.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Known For
Danielle Darrieux : Il est poli d'être gai !
Self (archive footage)
2019
Jean Paul Gaultier : Freak & Chic
Self
2018
I Will Show My Breasts
Jeanne
2013
Rue Mandar
la tante
2013
Just Like Brothers
Grandmother
2012
Bankable
Granny
2012
Hitler in Hollywood
Micheline Presle
2011
Thelma, Louise et Chantal
Huguette
2010
Going South
La grand-mère
2009
A Man and His Dog
Femme
2009
A Day at the Museum
Liliane
2008
Vous êtes de la police ?
Jane Latour-Jackson
2007
Grabuge!
Gisèle Lenoir
2005
Le voyageur sans bagage
Mme Renaud
2004
Les Anges 1943, histoire d'un film
Self (voice)
2004
France Boutique
Nicole
2003
Saltimbank
Mrs. Saltim
2003
Anna in Corsica
Marie
2003
Chouchou
La mère de Stanislas
2003
La vie au grand air
Claire Lacombe
2002
Vertiges de l'amour
La mère de Vincent
2001
Tender Souls
Juliette
2001
Transfixed
Violette Ancelin
2001
Charming Fellow
Bélise
2001
The Heart at Work
Madeleine
2000
Un enfant, un secret
Marthe
2000
Bad Company
Mamie
1999
The Journey to Paris
Madame Dubosc
1999
Venus Beauty Institute
Tante Maryse
1999
Letter to my brother Guy Gilles, filmmaker who passed away too soon
Self
1999
H
Elle-même (l'actrice) · (1 episode)
1998
Vivement dimanche
Self · (1 episode)
1998
The Count of Monte Cristo
Madame de Saint-Méran · (4 episodes)
1998
Grève party
Madame Raymonde
1998
Should Not!...
la "mère" de Bernard
1996
A Chef in Love
Marcelle Ichak
1996
The Voyage of Penelope
Hermine
1996
Diary of a Seducer
Diane
1996
Les Miserables
La mère supérieure / Mother Superior
1995
Casque bleu
Gisèle
1994
Something Fishy
Mrs. Loussine
1994
Fanfan
Maude
1993
Point d'orgue
Avril Espart
1993
My Name is Victor
Luce
1993
The Other Eye
Self
1991
Les Disparus de Saint-Agil
Mme Donnadieu
1991
Epiphany Sunday
Germaine et Marie-Louise
1991
Seul face au crime
Maria
1991
Après après-demain
La voisine
1990
Fathers' Day
Mireille Miran
1990
I Want to Go Home
Isabelle Gauthier
1989
In inniger Feindschaft
Gloria Maieul
1989
Mignon Has Left
Prof. Girelli
1988
Alouette, je te plumerai
Lady with jewels
1988
Sacrée soirée
Self · (1 episode)
1987
Matin Bonheur
Self · (1 episode)
1987
Beau temps mais orageux en fin de journée
Jacqueline
1986
Qui trop embrasse...
La mère de Christian
1986
The Ray Bradbury Theater
Grandma · (1 episode)
1985
Les Fausses Confidences
Mme Argente
1984
The Blood of Others
Denise
1984
The Dog
1984
Thieves After Dark
Genevieve
1984
At the Top of the Stairs
Mathilde
1983
Archipelago of Love
The mother (segment "Remue-ménage")
1983
Champs-Elysées
Self · (1 episode)
1982
Certaines nouvelles
Hélène
1980
It All Depends on Girls
Betty
1980
Out of Whack
Carmen
1979
Démons de midi
Rose
1979
S'il vous plaît... la mer?
1979
I've Got You, You've Got Me by the Chin Hairs
Mlle Chagrin
1979
Tales of the Unexpected
Madame Lagrue · (1 episode)
1979
We Forget Everything!
Madame Courdevey
1979
Your Turn, My Turn
Valentine Vatrin
1978
The Devil in the Box
Madame Aubert
1977
Nea
Helen Ashby
1976
Don't Bite, We Love You
1976
La Vie de Marianne
Mme. de Miran · (6 episodes)
1976
The Broken Mirror
Mother
1975
The Butcher, the Star and the Orphan
Star Belladonna
1975
Les Rendez-vous du dimanche
Self · (1 episode)
1975
Apostrophes
Self · (1 episode)
1975
Midi Première
Self · (1 episode)
1975
Two Big Girls in Pyjamas
Laurence
1974
La Gueule de l’emploi
Micheline Presle
1974
A Slightly Pregnant Man
Dr Delavigne
1973
Devil in the Brain
Countess Claudia Osio De Blanc
1972
The Legend of Frenchie King
Aunt Amelie
1971
Samedi soir
Self · (1 episode)
1971
Donkey Skin
The Red Queen
1970
Earth Light
L'Antiquaire
1970
Le Bal du comte d'Orgel
Madame de Séryeuse
1970
À la recherche de Jean Grémillon
Self
1969
King of Hearts
Madame Eva aka Madame Eglantine
1966
The Nun
Mme de Moni
1966
Les Saintes Chéries
Ève Lagarde · (39 episodes)
1965
Hail! Mafia
Daisy
1965
Les pieds nickelés
Paméla Van Der Mèche
1964
Male Hunt
Isabelle Lartois
1964
Dark Purpose
Monique Bouvier
1964
The Prize
Denise Marceau
1963
Teuf-teuf
1963
The Bamboo Stroke
Angèle Brissac
1963
Imperial Venus
Josephine
1962
If a Man Answers
Germaine Stacy
1962
Combat!
Annette · (1 episode)
1962
The Devil and the Ten Commandments
Micheline Allan
1962
Law of Men
Sophie Givier
1962
Lust
Madame Duparc - la Mère de Bernard
1962
The Seven Deadly Sins
Madame Duparc - la Mère de Bernard (segment "La luxure")
1962
The Red and the Black
Madame de Rénal
1961
Seduction Of The South
La marchesa
1961
The Assassin
Adalgisa De Matteis
1961
Five Day Lover
Madeleine
1961
Time Out for Love
Michele
1961
Mistress of the World - Part II
Mrs. Latour
1960
Mistress of the World - Part I
Madame Latour
1960
The Baron of the Locks
Perle Germain-Joubert
1960
A Mistress for the Summer
Paule
1960
Blind Date
Jacqueline Cousteau
1959
Bobosse
Régine / Simone
1959
Christine
Baroness Lena Eggersdorf
1958
Women Are Talkative
Nicole
1958
Les Cinq Dernières Minutes
Rachelle · (1 episode)
1958
Demoniac
Hélène Vanaux
1957
Her Bridal Night
Judith Aurigault
1956
Castle of the Banned Lovers
Lucrezia Cenci
1956
Thirteen at the Table
Madeleine Villardier
1955
Napoleon
Queen Hortense de Beauharnais
1955
House of Ricordi
Virginia Marchi
1954
Les impures
Michèle
1954
Royal Affairs in Versailles
Mrs. de Pompadour
1954
It Happened in the Park
Valeria Valenzano (segment: Gli amanti)
1953
The Love of a Woman
Marie Prieur
1953
La Dame aux camélias
Marguerite Gauthier
1953
Adventures of Captain Fabian
Lea Mariotte
1951
American Guerrilla in the Philippines
Jeanne Martinez
1950
Under My Skin
Paule Manet
1950
The Last Days of Pompeii
Hélène
1950
All Roads Lead to Rome
Laura Lee
1949
The Ed Sullivan Show
Self · (1 episode)
1948
Devil in the Flesh
Marthe Grangier
1947
The Chips Are Down
Eve Charlier
1947
Angel and Sinner
Élisabeth Rousset, aka "Boule de suif"
1945
Paris Frills
Micheline Lafaurie
1945
Twilight
Félicie Nanteuil
1944
Secrets of a Ballerina
Clara Biondi
1943
Le soleil a toujours raison
Micheline
1943
The Beautiful Adventure
Françoise Pimbrache
1942
Fantastic Night
Irène
1942
Foolish Husbands
Adélaïde Barbier
1941
Parade in 7 Nights
Irène Morillon
1941
Comedy of Happiness
Lydia
1940
The French Way
Claire Ancelot
1940
They Were Twelve Women
Lucie
1940
Four Flights to Love
Janine Mercier / Jeannette Leblan
1939
Vous seule que j'aime
1939
Petite peste
1939
Girls in Distress
Jacqueline Presle
1939
I Sing
(uncredited)
1938
The Spanking
(uncredited)
1937