Born Blanche Pauline Fumoleau on June 8, 1893, Gaby Morlay was a renowned French film actress who effortlessly transitioned from the era of silent films to talking films in the early 1930s.
Initially, Morlay gained recognition as a co-star alongside Max Linder in his "Max" series, and she went on to star in a series of "Gaby" films, including Gaby en auto in 1917, as well as over 20 other silent films.
As her career progressed, Morlay continued to impress audiences with her performances, eventually playing the role of Queen Victoria in the 1939 historical film Entente cordiale.
However, Morlay's personal life was not without controversy. During World War II, she had an affair with government minister Max Bonnafous, and after the liberation of France, she was investigated for alleged collaboration with the Nazis. Later, she married Bonnafous.
Despite these tumultuous events, Morlay continued to play significant roles throughout the 1940s and 1950s, cementing her status as a prominent figure in French cinema.
In her personal life, Morlay was an art lover and maintained a close friendship with Italian painter Beretta Dimario, who resided in Nice.
Source: Wikipedia article "Gaby Morlay" in English, licensed under CC-BY-SA 3.0.
