Suzanne Bianchetti

French film actress who appeared in her first film in the early 1900s and quickly became one of France's most loved and respected actresses. She appeared as Marie Antoinette in Abel Gance's 1927 epic, Napoléon, and worked with many of the early notables of the silent film era such as Antonin Artaud and the singer, Damia. She was married to writer and actor René Jeanne (1887–1969) who served as the director of L'Etablissement Cinématographique des Armées. Bianchetti died in Paris at 4:30pm on 17 October 1936 at the age of 47. The following year her husband created an award in her memory to be given annually to the most promising young actress. It was given for the first time in 1937 to actress Junie Astor (1912–1967) for her performance in the film, Club de femmes. The award comes in the form of a medallion engraved with Suzanne Bianchetti's image. Since its inception, the Prix Suzanne Bianchetti has been awarded to many of the greatest names in French cinema who went on to national and international success such as Micheline Presle, Simone Signoret, Annie Girardot, Geneviève Bujold, Audrey Tautou and Isabelle Adjani. Link to Wikipedia biography