Sarah Bernhardt: biography and the creative path of the actress (photo)

Sarah Bernhardt, a phenomenal actress, the first superstar in history who for decades covered countries and continents around the world, was born in Paris on October 22, 1844. Sara's mother, Jewish Judith (according to other sources, Judit), grew up in the family of Moritz Baruch Bernardt and Sarah Hirsch. As for the father of the great actress, it is not possible to reliably trace his name and origin.

Sarah Bernhardt, whose biography contains pages of very different kinds, grew up under the supervision of governesses, since her mother did not have a profession and was forced to exist at the expense of rich admirers of female beauty. The life of a beautiful woman is usually associated with long trips. A woman does not belong to herself, since she is obliged to fulfill the conditions of an unspoken contract. Thus, the little Sarah remained in the care of the slovenly nannies and grew up in an atmosphere of relative prosperity, but without maternal love.

Anxious childhood

One day, a misfortune happened to the girl. The next nurse did not follow, Sarah came too close to the burning fire, and her dress flared. The neighbors screamed at the child's screams, and everything went well, although the girl was scared to death. Judith, after learning about what had happened, decided not to leave her daughter anymore. Since then, Sarah has lived with her mother. Fortunately, at that time, Judith had a constant admirer, the earl of De Morny, who was a spiritual man. He sincerely loved the courtesan and therefore began to take part in the fate of her daughter.

"Comedie Francaise"

When Sarah turned 9 years old, she was sent to a private privileged school Grandshamp. De Morny made sure that the girl was educated and did not need anything. The life of the future actress began to acquire already quite certain outlines. She finished her studies and decided to achieve her cherished dream of becoming an actress. Again, a friend of the family, Count De Morny, helped her, who took eighteen-year-old Sarah Bernard to the director of the Comedie Française theater. He was somewhat puzzled: "Too thin for the stage" - he said. However, Sarah Bernhardt, whose biography then opened a new page, was accepted into the troupe, and this was a huge happiness for the girl.

Theatrical debut

The theatrical debut of Sarah Bernhard took place on September 1, 1862 in the play "Iphigenia in Aulis" by playwright Jean Baptiste Racine. Before going on stage, the actress became worried. When the curtain began to slowly rise, Sarah almost fainted. The girl literally shook with excitement, and it is no wonder that critics unanimously praised the actress for her beautiful appearance and put her "deuce" for acting. "From now on, the theater public of Paris can come to admire the magnificent golden hair of Sarah Bernhardt, but no more than that," the newspapers wrote.

Popularity

However, negative feedback is also feedback. In addition, theatrical critics did not take into account the iron character of the beginning actress. After a while, Sarah left the "Comedy Francaise" and began to play the first roles in other theaters. They were "Odeon", "Gymnasium", "Port-Saint-Martin". Each performance, in which the actress participated, became a masterpiece of theatrical art. The public fell on Sarah Bernard, and the director of the Comedie Française bitten elbows. However, having played almost all the classical roles, Zaire, Desdemona, Fedra, Andromache and many others, Bernard returned to the House of Moliere as a prima donna, where she was received with open arms.

Sarah Bernhardt and diamonds

The actress once again shocked the theatrical audience by playing Margarita Gautier in the play "The Lady with the Camellias" by Alexandre Dumas. Writer Victor Hugo, shocked by the sincerity of Sara Bernard, gave her diamonds in the form of tears on a gold chain. "These are the tears of my soul," he said. The actress for a long time kept the necklace as the most expensive gift, as an invaluable recognition of her talent. Jewelry Sarah Bernhardt loved the way that their true woman loves, she worshiped diamonds. The admirers of the actress knew this and shamelessly used the weakness of Sarah, posing her with gifts of fabulous price.

Bernard never left her jewelry at home when she needed to go on tour. All the diamonds were packed in a sturdy case and everywhere followed their mistress. Soul Bernard did not feel peace of mind, she was afraid of attack and robbery. And to resist the robbers, this weak woman always carried a small ladies' revolver. A little later, in the twentieth century, Sarah Bernhard had a follower. It was the world-famous and beloved Consuela Velasquez, the author of the song "Bezame Mucho", over which time is not powerful. Consuela took with her around the world and jewelry, and money, but there were many of them.

Men's roles

The revolver in the travel bag of Sarah Bernhardt indirectly spoke of her as a man's firm character. These signs of gender, in a good sense, reflected on the creativity of the actress. She played many male roles, including Hamlet, Orlyonok, Werther, Lorenzaccio, Zanetto.

I must say that Hamlet performed by Bernard conquered the very Stanislavsky, who was at that time still quite a young man, but already understood the use of theatrical art. Konstantin Sergeyevich, too, would probably give the actress diamonds if they had him.

Later, Stanislavsky often noted Sarah Bernhardt as a standard of perfection, her naturally delivered voice, impeccable diction, inner culture and, most importantly, a deep understanding of the character.

Indeed, the actress possessed the widest palette of human feelings, there was no such manifestation of the female soul (and sometimes the male), which Bernard could not have embodied in the image of her character. Organic transitions from grief to joy, from tenderness to fury - this is the true skill of the artist. Actress Sarah Bernhardt played so that Stanislavsky could only say his famous - "I believe ..."

"Talking" of this woman, her "whispers", the ability to "get down to rush," "crawl to burst out" - it was not just the talent of a great actress, it's a grandiose gift of God. Sarah Bernhardt, whose photo did not leave the pages of newspapers and magazines, could not step on foot, it was besieged on all sides by fans. The articles in the newspapers devoted to tours around Europe, and later in America, were similar to reports from the front during the war, the same style, the same terms - "Theater in a Siege", "This is a victory, critics are embarrassed," "Napoleon I did not know such triumph. " Often, materials about the illustrious theatrical divas supplanted government messages and important economic reports. Sarah Bernhardt, actress And the national favorite, always was surrounded by reporters, in a tight circle of the writing fraternity, and she could not get used to it.

The Fans

A lot of time the superstar took away advertising contracts. Spirits and soap, gloves and powder - on all expensive items of perfume stood the name of Sarah Bernhardt. But what is characteristic, she was never an idol. She was worshiped, worshiped, loved and extolled in every way, but there was no idol worship. People felt the open soul of the actress, her friendliness and answered her the same. Unlike her mother, Sarah distanced herself from wealthy men who would like to get close to her.

Sarah Bernhardt, whose brief biography contains several pages devoted to her home life, led, as it were, a double existence. Returning from the theater and stepping through the threshold of her apartment, the actress left outside the great art and plunged into her personal space.

home furnishings

The actress created her own little world at home. She drew pictures, molded sculptures, wrote short stories and funny plays. The house of Sarah Bernhardt was full of all living creatures, dogs and cats were crouched underfoot, snakes crawled around everywhere. One day she bought a real coffin covered with snow-white silk, and she almost began to live there. Lying in a coffin, she taught roles and drank coffee. And, as the actress said, she felt great in it. Such antics could be called epatage, but the fact is that Sarah Bernhardt did not try to impress for the sake of the impression. In the coffin, she really was comfortable, and she tended to go around the tail lying cats all over the place and tried to avoid them.

Actress About Me

His penchant for extreme actress once realized, having risen to the sky on a balloon in the company of close friends. The wind has pretty patted the air travelers, many have already begun to pray for forgiveness, and Sarah Bernhardt drank champagne and protruded to the waist over the side. "I love it when guests come to me," said the actress, "but I do not like going to visit myself, I love receiving letters, but no forces will force me to write an answer." I like to give advice, but I hate when someone advises me something " . She never thought about what would happen tomorrow, and forgot about what was yesterday. If tomorrow is fated to die - so what? Think ...

Juliet

Time did not spare the famous actress, but in old age she was still as similar to the girl Sarah. Critics of modernity admired the brilliant Bernard, there was a joke in the course: "Sarah Bernhard - Juliet Capulety." If the 70-year-old actress plays the 13-year-old heroine of Shakespeare, the whole theatrical world will believe and cry. " And it's not a joke, it could very well happen.

Sarah Bernhardt, quotes from sayings, roles and interviews which have been living for many decades, is unforgettable. The grave of the actress in the Pere Lachaise cemetery in Paris is always strewn with flowers. Parisians and admirers of the great actress who come from all over the world come to the memorial in complete silence to pay the debt of memory.