Angelique from the cult movie is 84: how the famous actress Michelle Mercier has changed. Photos then and now

The cult series of costumed historical films about Angelique brought world fame to French actress Michelle Mercier. On January 1, 2023, she turned 84 years old. The star was never able to get rid of the stereotype imposed on her by her cinematic alter ego, so for all her fans she remained Angelique, despite other equally successful roles.

Now Michelle Mercier does not act in movies and very rarely appears in public. One of the reasons is cancer, which the actress was diagnosed with in 2016. OBOZREVATEL decided to recall the "Marquise of Angels"'s path to fame and show how she looks now.

Jocelyne (the actress's real name) was born in 1939 in Nice. Her parents hoped that their daughter would take over the family business in the future - they owned a pharmaceutical company. However, since childhood, the little beauty realized that she wanted to connect her life with the stage. Jocelyne took up dancing and soon became a ballet dancer at the Nice Opera House.

At the age of 17, the dancer went to conquer Paris. There, she met Charlie Chaplin, who advised her to learn English and try her hand at filmmaking. When her ballet career didn't work out, Mercier decided to take the iconic actor's advice and went to London to study acting.

Mercier gradually became one of the leading actresses of French cinema, but then the role of the wonderful Angelique appeared in her life.

The lead role in the costume historical film based on the popular novel by Anne and Serge Golon, Angelique, was offered to the actress by director Bernard Bordery in 1963 after such legends as Brigitte Bardot, Catherine Deneuve and Jane Fonda had turned her down. Michelle successfully passed the audition and got the role of a pseudo-historical beauty from the cruel 17th century, who fights for her female happiness by all means available.

On the one hand, it was this character that made the actress a legend, and on the other hand, it ruined her career, locking her in one image forever.

After "Angelique" it became harder and harder for Mercier to find new roles, as both directors and audiences saw her as only the "Marquise of Angels."

Despite this, Mercier has remained one of the most respected figures in the history of French cinema. She is still invited to the Cannes Film Festival as a guest of honor.

But now, as we've already noted, the 84-year-old star is making fewer and fewer public appearances. Back in 2016, she was diagnosed with skin cancer. Mercier reacted to the disease quite calmly. She started treatment with a positive attitude, which inspired many people with similar diagnoses.

"It always seems unthinkable until it happens to you. There are those who cry when they find out, but I'm holding back good," the actress commented.

Earlier, OBOZREVATEL wrote about how the actors of the cult series Game of Thrones have changed. The project, the first episode of which was released in 2011 and the last in 2019, stars young stars who have grown and changed a lot during the filming. Many of them are hardly recognizable anymore.

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