Odette Joyeux

Odette Joyeux (5 December 1914 – 26 August 2000) was a French actress, playwright and novelist.

She was born in Paris, where she studied dance at the Paris Opera Ballet before taking the stage. Joyeux started her film career in 1931. Her first notable film was Marc Allégret's Entrée des artistes (1938). During the 1940s she established herself as one of France's most popular cinema actresses; however, she made few film appearances after the 1950s.

Joyeux is the author of some plays and essays on dance as well as a book on the life of inventor Nicéphore Niépce. She also wrote two novels aimed to inspire dance: L'Âge heureux (which was adapted to a television series) and Côté jardin. Additionally, Joyeux wrote The Bride Is Much Too Beautiful (1956) (adapted to film).

She married actor Pierre Brasseur from 1935 until their divorce in 1945, by whom she had one child, Claude Brasseur, who is the father of Alexandre Brasseur.

In 1958 she married director Philippe Agostini. They remained married until her death in Grimaud, Var, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France from stroke at age 85.

She was made Chevalier (Knight) of the Légion d'honneur on 29 November 1989, and promoted to Officier (Officer) in 1998.

She was made Officier (Officer) of the Ordre national du Mérite in 1994.