María Casares

(real surname, Casarès Quiroga). Born Nov. 21, 1922, in La Coruha, Spain. French actress.

Casarès graduated from the department of dramatic arts of the Paris Conservatory and began her stage career in 1942. She has played in many of the theaters of Paris, including the Atelier, the Marigny, the Comédie-Française, and the Théâtre National Populaire; since 1960 she has been with the troupe of the Athénée. Her best roles have included Victoria in State of Siege by Camus, Grushen’ka in The Brothers Karamazov, adapted from Dostoevsky, Périchole in The Carriage of the Holy Sacrament by Mérimée, the title roles in Hugo’s Marie Tudor and Racine’s Phèdre, and Mrs. Patrick Campbell in Dear Liar by J. Kilty. Intellect and great technical skill are combined with astrongly spirited performance in the artistry of Casarès. Casarèsmade her film debut in 1945 and has appeared in The Charter-house of Parma and Orpheus.