Jeanne Dortzal
Jeanne Dortzal | |
|---|---|
in 1908 | |
| Born | Jeanne-Françoise Thomasset January 24, 1878 |
| Died | 1943 (aged 64–65) |
| Occupations | actor, poet, playwright |
| Known for | acting |
| Partner | Pierre Guédy |
| Children | Pierre |
| Signature | |
Jeanne Dortzal born Jeanne-Françoise Thomasset (January 24, 1878 – 1943) was a French actor, poet and playwright who was born in Algeria.
Early life and education
Dortzal was born in Ghazaouet in Algeria in 1878. Ghazaouet was then called Nemours and she was called Jeanne-Françoise Thomasset. She said that she had fallen in love with a sheikh but her father objected and the sheikh died in a duel. Her father would not let her become an actress, but her mother left him and took her to Paris.[1] She studied at the Conservatory and also at the Odéon.
Career
François Guermonprez took photos of her and they were used to illustrate Pierre Guédy's 1899 book, The Blue Hour. The illustrations were coloured.[2]
She won the Gil Blas beauty contest in Paris in 1899 beating Elise de Vere. Dortzal was scheduled to appear in vaudeville the following year.[1]
Her partner, Pierre Guédy, died after becoming insane in 1903 leaving her with a son who was also called Pierre. She took to publishing poetry.[3]
Jules Massenet set some of her work to music[3] including a version she had created of the Snow White story after the Brothers Grimm (Perce-Neige et les sept gnomes).[4] It was staged at the Théâtre Fémina in Paris.[5]
In 1921 she published "Les Versets du soleil".[6]
Researchers report that they can find no evidence of her skills after 1930. It is only the discovery of part of a monument to her that confirms that she was alive until 1943.[3]
Personal life
At some point she met Pierre Guédy,[7] with whom she had a son named Pierre.
Works
- Vers sur le sable, 1901
- Vers l'infini, 1904
- Le jardin des dieux, 1908
- Sténio, pièce en 1 acte en vers, 1908
- Perce-neige et les sept gnomes, 1909
- Une bonne leçon, 1910
- Sur les toits bleus du soir, 1911
- Les Cloches de Port-Royal, 1912
- Les versets du soleil, 1921[6]
- La croix de sable, 1927
- Le royaume du sable, 1929
- Le Credo sur la montagne, 1934
Death
She died in 1943, after the death of her son, Pierre. She is the grandmother of actress Antoinette Guédy (1927–2013).[8]
References
- ^ a b "The Drama" (PDF). New York Times illustrated magazine. 6 July 1899. p. 6. Retrieved 31 Dec 2025.
- ^ imprimés, Bibliotheque nationale (France) Département des (1899). Bulletin mensuel (in French). p. 491.
- ^ a b c Muses, Le Pan Poétique Des. "n°3|Trois poèmes de Jeanne Dortzal (1878-1943)". LE PAN POÉTIQUE DES MUSES (in French). Archived from the original on 2025-09-06. Retrieved 2026-01-01.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ "Jeanne-Françoise Thomasset (1878 - 1943) | LiederNet". www.lieder.net. Retrieved 2025-12-31.
- ^ "Perce-Neige et les sept gnomes". Les Archives du spectacle (in French). 1909-02-01. Retrieved 2026-01-02.
- ^ a b "Les Versets du soleil". bibliotheques-specialisees.paris.fr. Retrieved 2026-01-01.
- ^ Paul Léautaud : literary diary, Monday, December 6, 1948
- ^ Guerre, Mémoires de (2024-10-12). "Guédy Antoinette". Mémoires de Guerre (in French). Retrieved 2026-01-02.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)