Musidora was an American actress, best known for her roles in “Les Vampires,” “Judex,” and “La flamme cachée.” Born on February 23, 1889, in Paris, France, she gained fame for her captivating performances in the silent film era.
Personal and Family Life
Musidora’s real name was Jeanne Roques, and she was born into a family of artists; her father was composer Jacques Roques and her mother was painter Adèle Clémence Porche. She began acting as a teenager and adopted the stage name Musidora, inspired by a character from Théophile Gautier’s novels, which means “gift of the Muses.” Musidora was married to Eugène Marot from 1927 until their divorce in 1944 and had one child with him.
Professional Career
Her acting career took off when she worked with renowned director Louis Feuillade, becoming one of the most recognizable French actresses of the 1910s. Musidora was not only an actress but also directed and produced films, with a total of ten directional credits, although only two have survived. She continued to contribute to cinema as a journalist and writer after her retirement in the late 1920s, even preserving the legacy of silent films.
Death and Legacy
Musidora passed away on December 7, 1957, in Paris and was buried at Cimetière de Bois-le-Roi. She left behind a remarkable legacy as one of the early stars of silent cinema, with her iconic characters still celebrated today. Her work helped in preserving the history of early film and inspired many future filmmakers.
Filmography
| Title | Release Date | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Les Vampires | 1915-11-13 | Irma Vep |
| Judex | 1916-12-16 | Diana Monti / Marie Verdier |
| Le grand souffle | 1915-01-01 | |
| Le Roman de la midinette | 1915-05-01 | |
| Triple entente | 1915-05-01 | |
| L’autre victoire | 1914-01-01 | |
| Le Pied qui étreint | 1916-01-01 | |
| Le calvaire | 1914-01-01 | La danseuse Bianca Flor |
| La Peine du talion | 1916-12-09 | Rosa Larose |
| Vicenta | 1920-05-14 | |
| La tierra de los toros | 1924-01-01 | |
| Pour Don Carlos | 1920-12-01 | |
| La flamme cachée | 1918-10-22 | |
| Sol y sombra | 1922-01-01 | Juana |
| Les chacals | 1917-01-01 | |
| Les misères de l’aiguille | 1914-01-18 | |
| Mademoiselle Chiffon | 1919-03-28 | Chiffon |
| Severo Torelli | 1914-05-15 | |
| Jeunes filles d’hier et d’aujourd’hui | 1915-01-01 | |
| La vagabonda | 1918-03-22 | Renata |
| La jeune fille la plus méritante de France | 1918-01-01 | |
| Le Berceau de Dieu | 1926-06-04 | |
| C’est pour les orphelins | 1916-11-13 | The Artist’s Maid |
| Bout-de-Zan et le lion | 1913-11-01 |