Corinne Marchand

Corrine Marchand began her career as a vocalist singing in nightclubs operettas and revues In addition she was a successful photographic model who eventually made her motion picture debut as an oriental dancer in Cadet Rousselle 1954 After several years playing minor parts she hit the big time as the sad pensive titular protagonist of Agnès Vardas Cléo from 5 to 7 1962 In the role of the beautiful vain and superstitious Parisian pop singer Cléo Victoire who confronts her mortality Marchand was spoton casting and gave a performance which is still regarded as iconic in the French New Wave cinema of the sixties Cleo was further enhanced by Marchands charming rendition of Michel Legrands Sans Toi La Joyeuse and La Menteuse The actress never had another role to match this despite significant leads in several international and French productions like Nunca pasa nada 1963 The Hour of Truth 1965 Les Sultans 1966 the Italo western Man from Nowhere 1966 the dour Charles Bronson thriller Rider on the Rain 1970 and the rollicking gangland crime drama Borsalino 1970 Aside from her work as an actress Marchand developed a lucrative side project as an apiarist following her graduation from the Charenton School of Beekeeping