Josette Day

Josette Day (1914-1978) was a French actress, born Josette Noële Andrée Claire Dagory in Paris. She is best known for her role as Belle in Jean Cocteau's 1946 film La Belle et la Bête (Beauty and the Beast).

Day began her career as a dancer with the Paris Opera Ballet. She transitioned to film in the 1930s, quickly establishing herself as a popular star. Some of her notable early films include Allô Berlin? Ici Paris! (1932) and Lucrèce Borgia (1935).

Her collaboration with director Marcel L'Herbier proved particularly fruitful, resulting in films like Entente cordiale (1939) and La Comédie du bonheur (1940).

However, it was her performance in La Belle et la Bête that secured her lasting fame. Her ethereal beauty and nuanced acting perfectly captured the innocence and compassion of Belle.

Following La Belle et la Bête, Day largely retired from acting. She married Louis-Émile Aillaud, a prominent architect, in 1948. While she made a few sporadic appearances in films afterward, she remained primarily focused on her personal life. She died in 1978.

Her portrayal of Belle continues to be celebrated as one of the most iconic performances in French cinema history, solidifying her legacy as a significant figure in the world of film.