Birth
Sarah Bernhardt was a French actress who had many great achievements. From the beginning of her career, all the way to her death she performed on stage and entertained thousands of people. Sarah began her life was on October 22, 1844 in France and would later become a huge star.
Family
Her mother had her out of wedlock with a French Naval Officer. Sarah is the youngest child, only having an older sister, Regina. Her mother, Julia Bernhardt was either Dutch or German but it is unknown for sure. Sarah Bernhardt has a very small family that she did not keep in touch with. In December of 1864, Sarah had a child named Maurice. The father was a Belgian nobleman named Price de Ligne. But, Sarah and the Prince never got married. Later, she married a Mr. Darall. Sadly, their marriage came to an end when he died in August of 1989.
Childhood
After Sarah’s birth, she was sent to live with various different friends and relatives of her mother. She never had a constant home and had minimal contact with her mother and father. When she was young, she went to the Convent of Grand Champs boarding school in Versailles. Sarah had a very lonely childhood. But, Sarah’s disadvantaged origins helped her career.
Hobbies and Interests
Sarah first appeared in plays in 1862. Her first love, besides church, was acting. This love of acting fed her need to be on the stage and perform for others. Sarah spent her whole life on various stages performing hundreds of plays in her lifetime. Later in her career, she started painting. She became the pupil of the sculptor Mathieu Meusnier. She spent a great deal of time painting and learning how to sculpt. Sarah’s paintings were known for their vibrant colors. Although simple, many people enjoyed her paintings. But, her most favorite hobby was acting.
Anecdotes
In 1870, Sarah was performing in the Odeon. While performing L’Autre, a war broke out. The play was halted through the duration of the war. Sarah, always being sick, spent most of her time at the Eaux-Bonnes recovering from her illness. Although Sarah was fragile and sick, she returned to Paris for the end of the war. SHe turned the Odeon into a makeshift hospital for those who were wounded in the war. The French army made it so she had all the supplies she needed for her hospital. As the war came to an end, she opened in the Odeon in October 1871. Her contribution to helping France with the war is mainly contributed to her loyalty and patriotism.
In the summer of 1874, Sarah wanted to take a break from the theater to recover from her health issues. But, Perrin, the director of her plays, demanded that she stay and perform. While in her performance, her sister Regina died. This added extra stress and illness to Sarah. While in mourning over her sister, Sarah started sleeping in a specially designed coffin at Regina's bedside. Shortly after, her mother passed away. In the same year, Sarah’s friend from the Odeon theater passed away as well. Sarah’s health started decreasing, and she sank into a depressed state.
Career
Throughout Sarah’s life, she has always been an actress performing hundreds of plays for audiences around the world. Early in Sarah’s career, she used her family connections to help her. She began her long career at the Odeon in France. Sarah was a very headstrong and independent actress. She incorporated that into a lot of her characters that she played. Her fashionable beauty captured the attention of the audience (in her early years), rather than her actual talent.
Throughout Sarah’s life, she has always been an actress performing hundreds of plays for audiences around the world. Early in Sarah’s career, she used her family connections to help her. She began her long career at the Odeon in France. Sarah was a very headstrong and independent actress. She incorporated that into a lot of her characters that she played. Her fashionable beauty captured the attention of the audience (in her early years), rather than her actual talent.
In 1879, Sarah premiered at the Comedie Francaise in London. In that year. she performed in 7 different plays. Her director, Perrin, did not care for her much. So, he often miscasted her. Even through all these miscasts, Sarah becomes a huge star. In 1881, Bernhardt makes a grand tour and performs around Europe. By the end of this tour, Sarah is very popular in Europe. Critics saw Sarah as being legendary and seductive.
In 1862, Sarah makes her first debut on stage. She played in 89 plays in Paris and France alone. She dedicated her life to her acting career. By 1879, she was a huge star in France.
Later Life
In the early 1890s, Sarah Bernhardt was a middle-aged women. Although Sarah was aging, critics did not see her as old. Instead, they saw her as legendary and seductive. And, even in her middle ages, she continued to perform in multiple plays. In all of her plays, she kept a youthful vigour with her face and body. In 1892, she performed in Cleopatra. With this and many other plays, she attracted a huge audience.
Death
In Sarah’s later years, newer and younger actresses started to emerge and challenge her. But, one spark of Sarah’s brilliance could outshine any of her rivals. Even through her sickness and injuries, Sarah could succeed past anyone who challenged her.
In 1916, Sarah came to America. She performed throughout America and Canada on a farewell tour. She did not return to France until 1918. When she started to perform again, it became very difficult for her due to her illness. In every scene she had to be seated or the scene had to be set according to her impairments. Her last venture was the film La Voyante. But, she died on March 26, 1923 without finishing the film. Sarah Bernhardt was responsible for introducing a number of talented French performers to London.
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