Martine Carol

Biography

Martine Carol, born Marie-Louise Jeanne Nicolle Mourer on 16 May 1920 in Saint-Mandé, Val-de-Marne, France, was a prominent French film actress. She began her acting career studying under René Simon and made her stage debut in 1940. Carol's film career commenced in 1943, and she quickly gained fame as a leading sex symbol of French cinema during the late 1940s and early 1950s, often compared to Marilyn Monroe. One of her notable performances was in the title role of Lola Montès (1955), directed by Max Ophüls. However, by the late 1950s, her career declined with the rise of new stars like Brigitte Bardot. Carol's personal life was marked by struggles, including a suicide attempt, substance abuse, and four marriages. She died unexpectedly from a heart attack on 6 February 1967 in a Monte Carlo hotel room at the age of 46.