“Another street named after an actress?” you ask. Not just any actress. This is Rue Sarah Bernhardt. It’s a tribute to one of the most famous actresses the world has ever known.
Sarah Bernhardt. “La Divine”. The name itself evokes a sense of drama and fascination. Half a million people lined the streets of Paris when she died in 1923. That’s how famous she was.
Born in Paris in 1844, Sarah was the daughter of Julie Bernhardt. Julie was a Jewish woman from Amsterdam. She worked as a “demi-mondaine”. That was a kinder term for prostitute. Sarah was her third illegitimate child.
Sent to a Catholic convent school, Sarah loved being the center of attention. It seems she was born for the stage. Her mother had other plans though. She wanted Sarah to follow in her footsteps. However, fate intervened. Her mother became mistress of the Duc de Morny. He was the half-brother of Emperor Napoleon III. The Duke helped Sarah enter the Conservatoire d’Art dramatique de Paris. Here, she learned acting.
After two years of “modest attainments,” she joined the Comédie-Française. This was a bastion of classical drama. Sarah was only sixteen. She was thin, short, and considered “too Jewish” by some.
But Sarah Bernhardt was more than just an actress. Some say she had a parallel career as a “demi-mondaine”. Her mother encouraged her to entertain wealthy men. She earned more money this way than she did acting. This allowed her to live in an extravagant apartment.
Even when she became famous, she continued to receive wealthy clients. Victor Hugo was said to be one of her lovers. He recorded his escapades with Sarah in his secret diary. Some have said that Bernhardt’s “pleasureless promiscuity” was a result of her inability to trust or love, because she never knew her father. The stage became a form of therapy for her.
When she married, she chose someone who did not love her. Aristides “Jacques” Damala was a morphine addict. He was a spendthrift, gambler, and womanizer. He called her “that Jewess with the long nose.”
Despite all of this, Sarah Bernhardt became a global superstar. Even if audiences did not understand French, they were moved to tears by her performances. They came to see Sarah Bernhardt. Not just the play.
Henry James described her as having “the advertising genius.” She was a master of publicity. Her performances were spectacular. She performed as if each play was written just for her.
Sarah Bernhardt. “La Divine”. “La Voix d’or”. “La Scandaleuse”. A legendary actress. An icon. Her story echoes through the ages. It reminds us that even the most scandalous figures can achieve greatness. So, as you walk down Rue Sarah Bernhardt, remember the woman who defied expectations. Remember the actress who conquered the world.