DHÉLIA, FRANCE

(1894-1964)

Actress. Born Franceline Benoît, France Dhélia was one of the great stars of the silent screen. She started her film career under the stage name Mado Floréal, but later changed to France Dhélia. She made her screen debut inCamille de Morlhon'sL'Ambitieuse(1912) under the name Floréal, and went on to make several other silent film appearances in films such as Georges Denola'sJoséphine vendue par ses soeurs(1913), de Morlhon'sCoeur de Gavroche(1916), and René Le Somptier'sÉpave de l'amour(1916). Dhélia appeared for the first time as Dhélia in Charles Burget and Le Somptier'sSultane de l'amour(1918).She went on to do several other Le Somptier films includingLa Croisade(1920),La Montée vers l'acropole(1920), andLa Bête traquée(1922), which Le Somptier codirected with Michel Carré. Other silent films in which Dhélia played includeGermaine Dulac'sMalencontre(1920),Jacques de Baroncelli'sNène(1923), Pierre Colombier'sPetit hôtel à louer(1923), andJean Epstein'sSa tête(1929).

Dhélia made a number of films, both silent and sound, with directorGaston Roudès, includingLesRantzau(1923),L'Ombre du bonheur(1924),L'Éveil(1924),La Douleur(1925),Le Prince Zilah(1926),Le Chemin de la gloire(1926),La Maison au soleil(1928),L'Ami de Pierre(1928),Un coup de mistral(1933),Roger la Honte(1933),L'Assomoir(1935), andUne main a frappé(1939). Apart from her roles in Roudès's films, she had one other speaking role, in Marc Didier'sLe Billet de mille(1935). She disappeared from the screen after 1935.