Trivia

Legendary prima ballerina who began her career at the Ballet in Monte Carlo in 1939.

Was the daughter of a Frenchwoman and a Russian General.

Her first husband, Edmond Audran, was her devoted choreographer and dance partner. His death at age 33 in a car accident left her shattered. She was persuaded to return to dance by second husband Raymond Roi, a renowned French financier and industrialist.

Painted in water colours since the age of six.

Was decorated with the "Officier, Legion d'honneur" in 1980.

She once painted AND danced in an exhibition at the Pompidou Center in Paris in order to illustrate her concept of "total art," in which all aspects are born of breathing and movement.

Also a sculptor, painter, choreographer and the author of two novels.

Trained at the school of the Paris Opera.

Won the French 'Cesar' award for the short film "A La Memoire du Hero," in which she portrayed Napoleon Bonaparte (!) dancing to the Funeral March of Beethoven's "Eroica.".

She made her English-speaking film debut with "The Red Shoes" but did not understand what she was saying. She had to memorize her dialogue phonetically.

Is buried in the Montmartre Cemetery, Paris.