Édouardine Verthuy, professionally known as Denise Grey, was a renowned French actress who left an indelible mark on the world of cinema and theatre.
Born Édouardine Grey in Châtillon, Aosta Valley, north-west Italy, near the French border, she was surrounded by a predominantly French-speaking environment. Despite being born in Italy, she was naturalized French on July 13, 1922, solidifying her connection to the country.
Grey began her career in the film industry in 1915 with the silent film "En famille," an adaptation of Hector Malot's novel. She initially dedicated herself to theatre, only to return to films in the 1930s, now working with the advent of talkies. Her breakthrough came in the 1940s with films such as "Monsieur Hector" (1940),"Boléro" (1942),and "Devil in the Flesh" (1947),cementing her status as a rising star.
Grey's illustrious career spanned multiple decades, with her final appearance being in the 1972 French television series "Les Rois maudits." She also gained recognition from a new audience in the 1980s thanks to her role as "Poupette" in the film "La Boum," which starred Sophie Marceau.
Throughout her career, Grey was a member of the prestigious Comédie-Française, serving two stints between 1944 and 1946, and again between 1957 and 1958.
Grey's personal life was marked by her daughter, Suzanne Grey, also an actress, who was born on June 28, 1917, and passed away on December 13, 2005.
In 1986, Grey released the song "Devenir vieux" (Becoming Old),a testament to her enduring spirit. Her life came full circle when she passed away in 1996, just a few months shy of her 100th birthday. She rests alongside her husband in the cemetery of Arradon, Morbihan, leaving behind a legacy that continues to inspire generations of actors and fans alike.
