Leslie caron actress biography

Her mother Margaret was American born and had been a ballet dancer in the States. Her older brother Aimery Caron became a chemist like his father. Leslie was trained to be a performer from childhood by her mother. She was trained in the National Conservatory of Dance and was hired by the renowned Roland Petit for his company at the age of Gene Kelley was impressed by her performance in the ballet La Rencontre This led to an extended contract with MGM who went on to produce many films with her.

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Leslie caron actress biography: French ballet dancer Leslie Caron was

Career [ change change source ]. Combined with her fluid dancing skills, she became one of the top foreign musical artists of the s, while her triple-threat talents as a singer, dancer and actress sustained her long after musical film's "Golden Age" had passed. Her father, Claude Caron, was a French chemist, and her American-born mother, Margaret Petit, had been a ballet dancer back in the States during the s.

Leslie herself began taking dance lessons at age She was on holidays at her grandparents' estate near Grasse when the Allies landed on the 15th of August After the German rendition, she and her family went to Paris to live. There she attended the Convent of the Assumption and started ballet training. While studying at the National Conservatory of Dance, she appeared at age 14 in "The Pearl Diver," a show for children where she danced and played a little boy.

At age 16, she was hired by the renowned Roland Petit to join the Ballet des Champs-Elysees, where she was immediately given solo parts. Leslie's talent and reputation as a dancer had already been recognized when on opening night of Petit's ballet "La Rencontre," which was based on the theme of Orpheus and featured the widely-acclaimed dancer 'Jean Babilee', she was seen by then-married Hollywood couple Gene Kelly and Betsy Blair.

Leslie did not leslie caron actress biography the famed pair at the end of the show that night as the year-old went home dutifully right after her performance, but one year later Kelly remembered Leslie's performance when he returned to Paris in search for a partner for his upcoming movie musical An American in Paris The rest is history. Kelly and newcomer Caron's touching performances and elegant and exuberant footwork especially in the "Our Love Is Here to Stay" and "Embraceable You" numbers, as well as the dazzling minute ballet to the title song had critics and audiences simply enthralled.

Leslie was put under a seven-year MGM contract where her luminous skills would also be featured in non-musical showcases. While Leslie's dramatic mettle was tested as a New Orleans nightclub entertainer opposite Ralph Meeker 's boxer in Glory Alley and as a French governess in The Story of Three Lovesit was as the child-like urchin who falls for a cruel carnival puppeteer Mel Ferrer in Lili that finally lifted Leslie to Academy Award attention.

It took another plush musical classic, Gigito remind audiences once again of Leslie's unique, international appeal. Audrey Hepburnwho had played the title part on Broadway, was keen on doing the film, but producer Arthur Freed wrote the part expressly for Leslie. Kelly helped the inexperienced Caron—who had never spoken on stage—adjust to filmmaking.

Her role led to a seven-year MGM contract. Still, Caron has said of herself: "Unfortunately, Hollywood considers musical dancers as hoofers. Regrettable expression. Dissatisfied with her career despite her success "I thought musicals were futile and silly", she said in ; "I appreciate them better now"Caron studied the Stanislavski method.

Sometime inCaron was one of the many actresses considered for the lead role of Eglantine Price in Disney's Bedknobs and Broomstickslosing the role to British actress Angela Lansbury. Caron returned to France in the early s, which she later said was a mistake. Caron is one of the few actresses from the classic era of MGM musicals who are still active [ when?

For her contributions to the film industry, Caron was inducted into the Hollywood Walk of Fame on December 8,with a motion pictures star located at Hollywood Boulevard.

Leslie caron actress biography: Leslie Claire Margaret Caron is

Hormelthe founder of the Hormel meat-packing company. They divorced in One bedroom was all mirrored for her dancing rehearsals. Her second husband was British theatre director Peter Hall. They married in and had two children: Christopher John Halla television drama producer, and Jennifer Caron Halla writer, painter and actress.

Leslie caron actress biography: Leslie Claire Margaret Caron

Her son-in-law, married to Jennifer, is Glenn Wilhidea producer and screenwriter. Caron had an affair with Warren Beatty in When she and Hall divorced inBeatty was named as a co-respondent and was ordered by the London court to pay the costs of the case. Caron was also romantically linked to Dutch television actor Robert Wolders from to Fromshe rented and lived for a few years in a mill the "Moulin Neuf" in the French village of Chaumot, Yonnewhich had belonged to Prince Francis Xavier of Saxony in the late 18th century and which depended on his princely castle.

She was hospitalized for a month and began attending Alcoholics Anonymous. In her autobiography, Thank Heavenshe states that she obtained American citizenship in time to vote for Barack Obama for president. Contents move to sidebar hide. Article Talk. Read Edit View history. Tools Tools. Download as PDF Printable version. In other projects.

Wikimedia Commons Wikidata item. French and American actress and dancer born Boulogne-sur-SeineParisFrance. Geordie Hormel. Peter Hall.