Marie Bell
Marie Bell (23 December 1900 – 14 August 1985), born Marie-Jeanne Bellon-Downey, was a French tragedian, comic actor and stage director. She was the director of the Théâtre du Gymnase in Paris from 1962 onwards, and this theatre now bears her name.
Also recorded as Marie-Jeanne Bellon
Marie Bell

Herbert Behrens / Anefo · Nationaal Archief · CC0
- Name
- Marie Bell
- Birth Name
- Marie-Jeanne Bellon-Downey
- Born
- 23 December 1900
- Birthplace
- Bègles, France
- Died
- 14 August 1985
- Place of death
- Neuilly-sur-Seine, Hauts-de-Seine, France
- Occupation
- Tragedian, comic actor, stage director
- Spouse
- Jean Chevrier
- Full name
- Marie Jeanne Bellon.
- Nationality
- France.
- Teachers
- Raphaël Duflos.
- Languages
- French.
VALÉORINE Encyclopedia
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Documentary summary
Marie Bell (23 December 1900 – 14 August 1985), born Marie-Jeanne Bellon-Downey, was a French tragedian, comic actor and stage director. She was the director of the Théâtre du Gymnase in Paris from 1962 onwards, and this theatre now bears her name.
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Note VALÉORINE
Marie Bell (1900–1985) was an actor, actress and film actor, among other activities, of French nationality. The actor was born Marie Jeanne Bellon in Bordeaux and died in Neuilly-sur-Seine. Marie Bell held the position of Sociétaire of the Comédie-Française. Languages used include French.
Composed from admitted, traceable facts · 30 September 2026
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wikidata · Q1132724 · wikipedia · Marie Bell
In this article
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Marie Bell • Birth Name — Marie-Jeanne Bellon-Downey • Born — 23 December 1900 • Birthplace — Bègles, France • Died — 14 August 1985 • Place of death — Neuilly-sur-Seine, Hauts-de-Seine, France • Resting Place — Monaco Cemetery • Occupation — Tragedian, comic actor, stage director • Spouse — Jean Chevrier
Early life
Early life
Marie Bell was born on 23 December 1900 in Bègles near Bordeaux (France). With her Irish father, she spent her childhood between Bordeaux and England.
Career
Career
Bell was a classical actress. She also appeared in avant-garde theatre, Jean Genet in particular. Her interpretation of the role of Phèdre is highly noted: "Voir Marie Bell dans Phèdre est une chance unique pour quiconque veut savoir ce qu'est le génie français." André Malraux During the German Occupation of France (1940–1944), she participated in the French resistance as one of nine directors of the Front national du théâtre. She was awarded the decoration of the Légion d'honneur by President Charles de Gaulle.
Personal life
Personal life
Bell married Jean Chevrier, who was also an actor.
Death
Death
Bell died on 14 August 1985 in Neuilly-sur-Seine, Hauts-de-Seine, France. She was buried alongside her husband Jean Chevrier at the Monaco Cemetery not far from Josephine Baker.
Filmography
Filmography
• Paris (dir. René Hervil, 1924), as Marthe de Lignières • Madame Récamier (dir. Tony Lekain and Gaston Ravel, 1928), as Juliette Récamier • The Farewell Waltz (dir. Henry Roussel, 1928), as Maria Wodzińska • Figaro (dir. Tony Lekain and Gaston Ravel, 1929), as Suzanne • La nuit est à nous (The Night Is Ours) (dir. Carl Froelich and Henry Roussel, 1930), as Bettine de Barsac • Le Joker (dir. Erich Waschneck, 1930), as Harriet Williams • L'Homme qui assassina (1931 film) (dir. Curtis Bernhardt and Jean Tarride, 1931), as Lady Falkland • La Folle Aventure (dir. Carl Froelich and André-Paul Antoine, 1931), as Nelly Irwin • Luck (dir. René Guissart, 1931), as Tania Balieff • The Man with the Hispano (dir. Jean Epstein, 1933), as Stéphane Oswill • The Princess's Whim (dir. Karl Hartl and Henri-Georges Clouzot, 1934), as Isabelle • Fedora (dir. Louis J. Gasnier, 1934), as Fedora • Le Grand Jeu (dir. Jacques Feyder, 1934), as Florence / Irma • Poliche (dir. Abel Gance, 1934), as Rosine • Fiordalisi d'oro (dir. Giovacchino Forzano, 1935), as Anne-Marie de Beaulieu • Sous la terreur (1936 film) (dir. Giovacchino Forzano and Marcel Cravenne, 1936), as Anne-Marie de Beaulieu • Story of a Poor Young Man (1935 film) (dir. Abel Gance, 1936), as Marguerite • La Garçonne (dir. Jean de Limur, 1936), as Monique Lerbier – la garçonne • Temptation (dir. Pierre Caron, 1936), as Irène de Bergue • When Midnight Strikes (dir. Léo Joannon, 1936), as Mattia • Les Demi-vierges (dir. Pierre Caron, 1936), as Maud de Rouvre • Blanchette (dir. Pierre Caron, 1937), as Blanchette Rousset • Pantins d'amour (dir. Walter Kapps, 1937), as Renée Morhange • Un carnet de bal (Life Dances On) (dir. Julien Duvivier, 1937), as Christine Surgère • Légions d'honneur (dir. Maurice Gleize, 1938), de Simone • La Glu (dir. Jean Choux, 1938), as Fernande "La Glu" • Noix de coco (Cocoanut) (dir. Jean Boyer, 1939), as Caroline • The Phantom Carriage (dir. Julien Duvivier, 1939), as Sœur Maria • Those of the Sky (dir. Yvan Noé, 1941), as Hélène • Private Life (dir. Walter Kapps, 1942), as Florence • Le colonel Chabert (dir. René Le Hénaff, 1943), as Comtesse Rosine Ferraud • Il gattopardo (The Leopard) (dir. Luchino Visconti, 1963), uncredited • La Bonne Soupe (dir. Robert Thomas, 1964), as Marie-Paule • Vaghe stelle dell'Orsa (Sandra) (dir. Luchino Visconti, 1965), as Sandra's mother • Hotel Paradiso (dir. Peter Glenville, 1966), as La Grande Antoinette • Phèdre (dir. Pierre Jourdan, 1968), as Phèdre • Closed Shutters (dir. Jean-Claude Brialy, 1973), as Aurore
Identity and origins
Identity and origins
Marie Bell was recorded at birth as Marie Jeanne Bellon. The authorities additionally record the heading Marie-Jeanne Bellon. Her recorded language was French. She married Jean Chevrier.
Identity
Identity
Marie Bell is recorded as actress.
![Collectie / Archief: Fotocollectie Anefo Reportage / Serie: [onbekend] Beschrijving: Franse actrice Marie Bell. Aankomst in Amsterdam Datum: 20 maart 1956 Locatie: Amsterdam, Noord-Holland Trefwoorden: acteurs, stations, toneelspelers, treinen Persoonsnaam: Bell, Marie Fotograaf: Behrens, Herbert / Anefo Auteursrechthebbende: Nationaal Archief Materiaalsoort: Negatief (zwart/wit) Numme](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/35/Franse_actrice_Marie_Bell._Aankomst_in_Amsterdam%2C_Bestanddeelnr_934-5836.jpg/800px-Franse_actrice_Marie_Bell._Aankomst_in_Amsterdam%2C_Bestanddeelnr_934-5836.jpg)
Collectie / Archief: Fotocollectie Anefo Reportage / Serie: [onbekend] Beschrijving: Franse actrice Marie Bell. Aankomst in Amsterdam Datum: 20 maart 1956 Locatie: Amsterdam, Noord-Holland Trefwoorden: acteurs, stations, toneelspelers, treinen Persoonsnaam: Bell, Marie Fotograaf: Behrens, Herbert / Anefo Auteursrechthebbende: Nationaal Archief Materiaalsoort: Negatief (zwart/wit) Numme
Herbert Behrens / Anefo
![Collectie / Archief: Fotocollectie Anefo Reportage / Serie: [onbekend] Beschrijving: Franse actrice Marie Bell. Aankomst in Amsterdam Datum: 20 maart 1956 Locatie: Amsterdam, Noord-Holland Trefwoorden: acteurs, stations, toneelspelers, treinen Persoonsnaam: Bell, Marie Fotograaf: Behrens, Herbert / Anefo Auteursrechthebbende: Nationaal Archief Materiaalsoort: Negatief (zwart/wit) Numme](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/af/Franse_actrice_Marie_Bell._Aankomst_in_Amsterdam%2C_Bestanddeelnr_934-5837.jpg/800px-Franse_actrice_Marie_Bell._Aankomst_in_Amsterdam%2C_Bestanddeelnr_934-5837.jpg)
Collectie / Archief: Fotocollectie Anefo Reportage / Serie: [onbekend] Beschrijving: Franse actrice Marie Bell. Aankomst in Amsterdam Datum: 20 maart 1956 Locatie: Amsterdam, Noord-Holland Trefwoorden: acteurs, stations, toneelspelers, treinen Persoonsnaam: Bell, Marie Fotograaf: Behrens, Herbert / Anefo Auteursrechthebbende: Nationaal Archief Materiaalsoort: Negatief (zwart/wit) Numme
Herbert Behrens / Anefo
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
The full dated record · 1 entries
1985
Marie Bell died at Neuilly-sur-Seine.
Places
Named by the record
Places
Only places the record itself states, plotted where the house gazetteer settles their coordinates. Nothing is inferred from a name or a nationality.
Bordeaux.
Birth place
Neuilly-sur-Seine.
Death place
Where the work is held
Holdings and surviving copies
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Literature
Scholarly footprint
A count of publications is evidence of attention, not of standing, and is given here only as a measure.
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Room5 55
- 2.Marie Bell.
- 3."Seeing Marie Bell in Phèdre is a unique opportunity for anyone who wants to know what is the French genius." Cited in L'Avant-Scène n°342 (October 1965)
- 4.Marie-Agnès Joubert, La Comédie-Française sous l’Occupation, Paris, Tallandier, 1998, p. 353.
- 5.Marie Bell.
- 6.Visite funéraire de Monaco. Amis et Passionés du Père-Lachaise.
References
Citations
References
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reference work
Secondary witnessreference work
Secondary witness
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 15 August 2026.
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