About Renée Simonot
Renée Simonot, 109, French actress.
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Full Biography
|Jeanne Renée Deneuve (French pronunciation: [ʒan ʁəne dənœv]; 10 September 1911 – 11 July 2021), known professionally as Renée-Jeanne Simonot ([ʁəne ʒan simɔno]), was a French actress and voice artist. Partially italian, she was married to actor Maurice Dorléac, the mother of actresses Catherine Deneuve and Françoise Dorléac and the grandmother of actor Christian Vadim and actress Chiara Mastroianni.
Early life and career
Born in Le Havre, France to Joseph-Sévère Deneuve and Antoinette-Jeanne Deneuve (née Schenardi), she debuted at the Odéon Theatre in 1918 at the age of seven. Primarily a stage actress, she remained there for 28 years, holding the post of "leading lady". Her daughter Catherine chose to use her maiden name, Deneuve, as her stage name. Simonot is Renée's stage name, which she took from an opera singer and family friend.
Renée Simonot was one of the first French actresses to begin the dubbing of American films in France from the beginning of the talkies in 1929 through the 1930s. She was the voice of Olivia de Havilland (in most of her films), Sylvia Sidney, Judy Garland, Donna Reed and Esther Williams, among others.
Personal life
She had her first daughter, Danièle, out of wedlock on 27 October 1936 with actor Aimé Clariond. Simonot told Le Point magazine in 2013: "Mr. Clariond was not my husband. He was married, not divorced and separated from his wife for a long time. The only happiness he gave me is a child. For the rest, he was charming, but we could not count on him."
While dubbing for MGM, she met Maurice Dorléac and they married in 1940. The couple had three daughters: Françoise (1942–1967), Catherine (born 22 October 1943) and Sylvie (born 14 December 1946).
Simonot had been a widow since 1979 and lived in Paris. In an interview conducted a few months before her 102nd birthday in 2013, she said: "My old age is not sad. I am lucky to be very surrounded. There is not a day where I don't get a phone call or a visit from my children and grandchildren."
In 2019, ahead of her 108th birthday, daughter Catherine told Gala: "It's pretty amazing, it comes from her genes. My sisters and I are holding her. She has been in a home for two or three years. At the same time it's a little scary, it still seems very far in life. I am all the more surprised by her longevity that she is not sick."
Simonot died in Paris in July 2021 at the age of 109.
Selected stage work
- 1921: Les Misérables (Cosette) by Paul Meurice and Charles Hugo based on the novel by Victor Hugo, Odéon Theatre
- 1922: Molière by Henry Dupuy-Mazuel and Jean-José Frappa, directed by Firmin Gémier, Odéon Theatre
- 1928: La Belle Aventure by Gaston Arman de Caillavet, Robert de Flers and Étienne Rey, Odéon Theatre
- 1932: Le Favori by Martial Piéchaud, Odéon Theatre
- 1934: Jeanne d'Arc by Saint-Georges de Bouhélier, Odéon Theatre
Content from Wikipedia — licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
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Sources
- Wikipedia
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ren%C3%A9e_Simonot
- CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sep 26, 2026
- View article
- Sep 26, 2026
Trivia & Knowledge· 16 questions
Questions drawn from Renée Simonot's archived record and the sources above.
1.What is the maiden name of Renée Simonot's mother?
- A.Clariond
- B.Dorléac
- C.Deneuve
- D.Schenardicorrect
Renée Simonot was born to Joseph-Sévère Deneuve and Antoinette-Jeanne Deneuve, née Schenardi.
Source: Early life and career
2.How old was Renée Simonot when her daughter Catherine Deneuve spoke to Gala about her longevity?
- A.108correct
- B.107
- C.105
- D.102
In 2019, ahead of her 108th birthday, daughter Catherine told Gala about her mother's longevity.
Source: Personal life
3.When was Renée Simonot's daughter Sylvie born?
- A.1936
- B.1943
- C.1946correct
- D.1942
Renée Simonot and Maurice Dorléac had a daughter named Sylvie, born on 14 December 1946.
Source: Personal life
4.At what age did Renée Simonot make her debut at the Odéon Theatre?
- A.Nine
- B.Sevencorrect
- C.Twelve
- D.Five
Renée Simonot debuted at the Odéon Theatre in 1918 at the age of seven.
Source: Early life and career
5.Who was Renée Simonot married to starting in 1940?
- A.Christian Vadim
- B.Maurice Dorléaccorrect
- C.Aimé Clariond
- D.Firmin Gémier
While dubbing for MGM, Renée Simonot met Maurice Dorléac and they married in 1940.
Source: Personal life
6.In what city did Renée Simonot pass away?
- A.Le Havre
- B.Marseille
- C.Pariscorrect
- D.Lyon
Renée Simonot died in Paris in July 2021 at the age of 109.
Source: Personal life
7.How many years did Renée Simonot stay as a leading lady at the Odéon Theatre?
- A.42 years
- B.15 years
- C.35 years
- D.28 yearscorrect
Renée Simonot was primarily a stage actress who remained at the Odéon Theatre for 28 years.
Source: Early life and career
8.Which of these actresses did Renée Simonot dub in French?
- A.Marilyn Monroe
- B.Judy Garlandcorrect
- C.Audrey Hepburn
- D.Elizabeth Taylor
Renée Simonot was the voice of several American actresses including Judy Garland, Olivia de Havilland, and Sylvia Sidney.
Source: Early life and career
9.What was the name of the daughter Renée Simonot had with Aimé Clariond?
- A.Françoise
- B.Danièlecorrect
- C.Catherine
- D.Sylvie
Renée Simonot had her first daughter, Danièle, out of wedlock on 27 October 1936 with actor Aimé Clariond.
Source: Personal life
10.Which of Renée Simonot's daughters chose to use Deneuve as a stage name?
- A.Françoise
- B.Sylvie
- C.Danièle
- D.Catherinecorrect
Her daughter Catherine chose to use her maiden name, Deneuve, as her stage name.
Source: Early life and career
11.In what year did Renée Simonot begin dubbing American films?
- A.1936
- B.1932
- C.1925
- D.1929correct
Renée Simonot began the dubbing of American films in France from the beginning of the talkies in 1929.
Source: Early life and career
12.Who was Renée Simonot's daughter Catherine Deneuve's father?
- A.Aimé Clariond
- B.Maurice Dorléaccorrect
- C.Firmin Gémier
- D.Christian Vadim
The couple, Renée Simonot and Maurice Dorléac, had three daughters, including Catherine.
Source: Personal life
13.What role did Renée Simonot play in the 1921 stage production of Les Misérables?
- A.Fantine
- B.Cosettecorrect
- C.Madame Thénardier
- D.Éponine
In 1921, Renée Simonot performed as Cosette in Les Misérables at the Odéon Theatre.
Source: Selected stage work
14.Who directed the 1922 production of Molière featuring Renée Simonot?
- A.Paul Meurice
- B.Firmin Gémiercorrect
- C.Charles Hugo
- D.Saint-Georges de Bouhélier
Renée Simonot appeared in Molière in 1922, which was directed by Firmin Gémier.
Source: Selected stage work
15.From whom did Renée Simonot take her professional stage name?
- A.A character she played in 1918
- B.A family friend who was an opera singercorrect
- C.Her mother
- D.An Italian theater director
Simonot is Renée's stage name, which she took from an opera singer and family friend.
Source: Early life and career
16.Where was Renée Simonot born?
- A.Paris, France
- B.Lyon, France
- C.Nice, France
- D.Le Havre, Francecorrect
Renée Simonot was born in Le Havre, France, to parents Joseph-Sévère Deneuve and Antoinette-Jeanne Deneuve.
Source: Early life and career
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