At 98, Judith Magre still on stage declares his love for Baudelaire

« In my life, two things have counted : Theater and love. » At 98, Judith Magre, dean of French actresses in activity, has not finished with the scene and declaims about twenty poems of Evil flowers the central work of his favorite poet, until March in Paris.

It is on the boards that the actress is « feels best ». « I had to have a guy and the theater. I was lucky to have had it all. Now, it’s been a bit like … because men dying younger than good women, I have more … which I find very sad. »

« Old age is a horrible thing »says the actress, of her voice recognizable among all. « We are ugly, we hang out and we no longer fuck ! » For this return to stage, the one who was rewarded by three Molières, including two of the best actress in 2000 and 2006, selected her favorite poems from Evil flowers dont Spleen, Previous life, Posthumous remorse et You are entering !.

An always love

« I discovered Baudelaire At the age of 7 in the library of my uncle and aunt. Below, there were books for children, a little higher the books for the big ones, including Baudelaire who has instantly become my always love. There was also Sade that I could never read so much it’s boring ! »she says.

On the scene of the Poche-Montparnasse theater, Judith Magre gives life to these poems, while the journalist and writer Olivier Barrot draws up a chiseled portrait of the poet, both offering a masterful course which also attracts classes of college and high school students . Last year, she engaged in the same exercise with the heroines of root tragedies: Andromaque, Bérénice, Phèdre, Athalie, Agrippine.

Twice winner of the union of the union of criticism, Simone Dupuis of her real name, high cheekbones, bright lipstick, started in the cinema in 1947. But, with a hundred pieces to her credit, it is in the theater that ‘She distinguished herself, having played almost everything, from Eschyle to the comedies of Boulevard.

 

« I have never played things that bored me. »»

Judith Magre

« You know I have never taken a lesson in my life ? »she notes in a burst of laughter. « To read poems or play a role, just know how to read, learn them by heart and speak. It never seemed to me a job ! » « I had the chance to meet people like » The actors and directors « Jean Vilar , Georges Wilson Jean-Louis Barrault or Jorge Savelli »she underlines, ensuring: « I have never played things that bored me. ” « In life either, but in life, we are not responsible for everything. »

At 98, she still has plans for the scene, but does not say more. « Does it happen ? We will see. » « From my 40th birthday, it was said of me that I was an icon, a sacred monster … It always made me laugh … I find that it is a little too much for a poor actress »she notes. However, the actress concludes her show with the Baudelaire watchword: « Take intoxicate, you constantly get into wine, poetry, virtue, as you wish ! »