Claudette Colbert (September 13, 1903 – July 30, 1996) Was an American Cinema Actress, and a Leading Lady in Hollywood for over Two Decades, Who Has Been Called "The Epitome of Chic Sophistication".
Frequently Asked Questions
Early Life
Émilie "Lily" Claudette Chauchoin (Pronounced “Show-Shwan”) Was Born in Saint-Mandé, France, to Georges Claude Chauchoin (1867–1925) and Jeanne Marie (Née Loew, 1877–1970). Despite Being Christened "Émilie," She Was Called "Lily," Because She Had an Aunt Living with Her by the Name of Émilie. the Aunt Was Her Maternal Grandmother's Adopted Child, Emilie Loew (1878–1954), Who Was Not a Blood Relative, Worked as a Dressmaker, and Never Married. Colbert's Nickname "Lily" Came from Jersey-Born Actress Lillie Langtry. Jeanne, Emilie Loew and Colbert's Grandmother Marie Augustine Loew (1842–1930) Were Born in the Channel Islands in the British Isles, and They Were Already Fluent English Speakers Before Coming to the U. S. , Though French Was Spoken in the Family Circle. Colbert's Brother, Charles Auguste Chauchoin (1898–1971), Was Also Born in Jersey. Jeanne Held Various Occupations. While Georges Chauchoin Had Lost the Sight in His Right Eye and Hadn't Settled into a Profession, He Worked in Banking Business, Suffering Business Setbacks. Marie Loew Had Already Been to the U. S. , and Georges' Brother-in-Law (Surname Vedel) Was Already Living in New York City. Marie Was Willing to Help Georges Financially but Also Encouraged Him to Try His Luck in the U. S.
Career
After Signing a Five-Year Contract with the Producer Al Woods, Colbert Played Ingenue Roles on Broadway from 1925 Through 1929. During This Period She Disliked Being Typecast as a French Maid. Colbert Later Said, "In the Very Beginning, They Wanted to Give Me French Roles … That’s Why I Used to Say My Name Col-Bert Just as It Is Spelled Instead of Col-Baire. I Did Not Want to Be Typed as ‘That French Girl. ’" She Received Critical Acclaim on Broadway in the Production of the Barker (1927) as a Carnival Snake Charmer. She Reprised This Role for the Play's Run in London's West End. Colbert Was Noticed by the Theatrical Producer Leland Hayward, Who Suggested Her for the Heroine Role in for the Love of Mike (1927), a Silent Film Now Believed to Be Lost. the Film Didn't Fare Well at the Box Office.
Personal Life
In 1928, Colbert Married Norman Foster, an Actor and Director, with Whom She Co-Starred in the Broadway Show the Barker, and in the 1930 Film Young Man of Manhattan, for Which He Received Negative Reviews as One of Her Weakest Leading Men. Their Marriage Remained a Secret for Many Year's While They Lived in Separate Homes. in Los Angeles, Colbert Shared a Home with Her Mother Jeanne Chauchoin, but Her Domineering Mother Disliked Foster and Did Not Allow Him into Their Home. Colbert and Foster Divorced in 1935 in Mexico.
