Maria Schneider

Marie Christine Gélin

Actress, French Cinema Figure, Film Advocates Champion

Born Mar 27, 1952

Paris, France

Passed Away Feb 03, 2011 Paris, France

Lifespan 58 years old

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Notice / Correction

"I felt manipulated and humiliated during that shoot, but I refused to let it define who I was as an artist."

Archival Overview

French actress who rose to controversial worldwide fame at age nineteen opposite Marlon Brando in Bernardo Bertolucci's Last Tango in Paris and starred in Antonioni's The Passenger.

Biographical Record

Marie Christine Gélin was the daughter of French actor Daniel Gélin and Romanian model Marie-Christine Schneider. In 1972, director Bernardo Bertolucci cast the nineteen-year-old Schneider opposite Marlon Brando in 'Last Tango in Paris', making her an instant international sensation.

Despite the intense and exploitative media fallout from 'Last Tango', Schneider demonstrated great artistic range, starring opposite Jack Nicholson in Michelangelo Antonioni's acclaimed existential thriller 'The Passenger' (Professione: reporter, 1975) and Jacques Rivette's 'Merry-Go-Round'. Later in life, she became a courageous advocate for the fair treatment and safety of young actresses in cinema.

Key Life Milestones

1972

Last Tango in Paris

Catapulted to international cinema fame in Bertolucci's groundbreaking and controversial drama.

1975

The Passenger with Jack Nicholson

Delivered a captivating performance in Michelangelo Antonioni's Cannes Palme d'Or contender.

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Final Resting Place

Perpetual Memorial

Père Lachaise Cemetery
Paris, France

                         GPS: 48.8604, 2.3956                    

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