Versois, Odile (1930–1980)
Versois, Odile (1930–1980)
French actress. Born Katiana de Poliakoff-Baidaroff on June 14, 1930, in Paris, France; died in 1980; daughter of a painter; sister of actresses Hélène Vallier (Militza de Poliakoff-Baidaroff) and Marina Vlady.
An actress whose popularity crossed many national boundaries, Odile Versois was a European film star of the mid-20th century. She was born Katiana de Poliakoff-Baidaroff in Paris in 1930, the daughter of an artist. Her sisters Hélène Vallier and Marina Vlady both became actresses as well. Versois took to the stage as a child, winning a place in the ballet troupe of the Paris Opera. Her film debut came at the age of 16. For much of her career she played leads, usually in gentle, optimistic roles. She appeared in films not only in her native France (Dernières Vacances, 1948, Fantômas contre Fantômas, 1949, Mademoiselle Josette ma Femme, 1951, Belle Amour, 1951, Le Rendezvous, 1961, and Le Dernier Tiercé, 1964, among others), but in Britain (A Day to Remember, 1953, The Young Lovers, 1954, To Paris with Love, 1955, Passport to Shame, 1959, and more), Germany (Herrscher ohne Krone, 1957), and Italy (Paolo e Francesca, 1950). She died in 1980.
James M. Manheim , freelance writer, Ann Arbor, Michigan