Leslie Caron Biography
(Actress & Dancer Known for Her Films: 'Lili' and 'The L-Shaped Room')
Birthday: July 1, 1931 (Cancer)
Born In: Boulogne-sur-Seine, Paris, France
Leslie Claire Margaret Caron is a French actress and dancer who shot to limelight in the 1950s with much lauded American musicals like ‘An American in Paris’, ‘Daddy Long Legs’, ‘Lili’ and ‘Gigi’. She was discovered by renowned ‘MGM’ star Gene Kelly while searching for his co-star for one of the finest musicals in the history of cinema, ‘An American in Paris’ that eventually won six Academy Awards. The breathtaking performances of Kelly and the new birdie Caron along with their graceful and expressive dance movements in the title song ballet as also in numbers like ‘Embraceable You’ and ‘Our Love Is Here to Stay’ fascinated both the audiences and the critics. Eventually her acting, singing and dancing talents made her as one of the leading foreign musical artists of the American film industry. Not confining herself to musicals only she endeavoured into straight dramas and proved her mettle in non-musicals as well with films like ‘Gaby’, ‘ Father Goose’, ‘The L-Shaped Room’ and ‘Fanny’. During the late 1960s and 1970s while her craze in Hollywood somewhat faded, she turned her focus in the European film industry where she was seen doing substantial roles as a more mature and classy older lady. Apart from films, she also proved her mettle in television series and movies as well as stage. She has won several awards and accolades throughout her career including ‘British Academy Film Award’, ‘Golden Globe Award’ and ‘Emmy Award’. Her on-screen and off-screen persona clubbed with her high-profile divorce case always kept her in the spotlight. Several honours were conferred to her including ‘Chevalier de la Légion d'honneur’ in June 1993; ‘Ordre National du Mérite’ in February 1998; ‘Officier de la Légion d'Honneur’ in June 2004; and ‘Commandeur de la Légion d'honneur’ in March 2013.