- Marie Laforêt, Plein Soleil (US: Purple Noon), France-Italy, 1958. “Whenever I make a decision, it doesn’t work,” said the Canadian star of the French New Wave. “I’m always in and out… scared I might let people down.” And so Marge Duval became the first of the singer’s 55 screen roles. Her 1959 reward for creating a buzz in her first five nouvelle vague films was joining Tarzan the Magnificent in Kenya. Well, at least it was the best ape-man: Gordon Scott.
- Carla Marlier, Zazie dans le metro, France, 1960. The Canadian face of the French nouvelle vague hadmade three films only when testing for realisateur Louis Malle’s third feature. She lost Albertine but dubbed Marlier’s German accent with her Montreal tones. Her finest role came in Malle’s fifth., the Oscar-nominated le Feu follet (US: The Fire Within), 1963. They became lovers during his tenth, Lacombe Lucien, 1973, had a daughter, Justine, in 1974. Stewart still lives in the “incredible” house he bought them, in the Bois de Vincennes, Paris. She also worked for François Truffaut but could never reconcile the two rivals. Crossing the Champs Élysées from chez François to chez Louis, she used to say, “was like crossing a frontier.”
- Carla Marlier, Mélodie en sous-sol, France-Italy, 1962. “In order not to suffer, I’m always en arrière de la main – behind the bit, as horseriders say. That’s when a horse no longer connected with your hands.”
- Ursula Andress, Dr No, 1962.
- Susannah York, Freud, 1962. A lucky escape… The French existentialist philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre wanted Marilyn as Sigmund’s patient with hysterical paralysis, Cecily Koertner. Except, his script was never used. Too long – “as thick as my thigh,” said director John Huston. who tortured poor Montgomery Clift during the filming and castigated Susannah York afterwards. She was Cecily. Stewart was not Magda!
- Françoise Dorléac, Cul-de-sac, 1966. Polish director Roman Polanski tested various youngsters, lost Charlotte Rampling, rejected Jacqueline Bisset and settled for the Canadian star of the French Nouvelle Vague. During rehearsals, he found her too wholesome for the kooky Teresa. “She was big enough to admit it.” And left. A few days before shooting, he heard Dorléac was in London and took her without any test for his second UK film. Her sister, Catherine Denueve, starred in the first, Repulsion, 1965.Stewart was part of Polanski’s Frantic line up in 1987.
- Faye Dunaway, Bonnie and Clyde, 1966.
- Angie Dickinson, Point Blank, 1966. UK director John Boorman first wantedLee Remickthen Alexandra orJoanne Woodward to befthe most memorable Chris in Hollywood movies since Yul Brynnerin The Magnificent Seven, 1960 And they all refused er, shall I say it – shucks why not! – point blank.
- Jeanne Moreau, la Duchesse de Varsovie, 2013. The Jewish grandmother telling her grandson all about her WWII deportation was written for Moreau. She changed her mind. Still looking good at 75, Alexandra came to the rescue of réalisateur Joseph Morder just two days before shooting had to start. “She’s a great actress, demanding and shy.” (Both Moreau anf Stewart had been lovers of director Louis Malle).
Birth year: Death year: Other name: Casting Calls: 9