June 26, 1967 will forever be engraved in the memory of Catherine Deneuve. That day, her older sister, Françoise Dorléac, lost her life in a car accident on the A8 motorway while she was in a rented Renault 10. The accident took place unexpectedly, plunging the family and the world of cinema into deep sadness.
Françoise Dorléac, a talented actress, was at the peak of her career at the time. Her sudden disappearance left an immeasurable void, breaking the hearts of those close to her, notably that of the woman who married the photographer David Bailey in 1965. The latter, herself an icon of French cinema, was deeply affected by the tragic loss of his eldest. The accident had a lasting impact on his personal and professional life, marking a painful turning point in his career.
Guest of Pierre Lescure for his show Nice gesture which is scheduled to be broadcast this Sunday, September 24, 2023 on France 2 and an extract of which has already been posted online by the channel on social networks, Catherine Deneuve will return in particular to the drama. “Do you think you would have continued in this profession if your sister were here?”, the journalist dares to ask him. A question that the actress is incapable of answering. “I can be optimistic at times and say to myself: ‘Yes, maybe we could have made films together again much later… I love my sister,’ says the now 79-year-old actress with tears in her eyes.
Also see: “You put on your scarf, so we’ll stop there!”, “Oh but are you kidding?”, Catherine Deneuve interrupts a lunar interview with Laure Adler!
Catherine Deneuve makes a big revelation about her marital status
Before mentioning Françoise Dorléac, Catherine Deneuve also explained that she had to draw a line under her birth name which could not be the same as that of her sister since they regularly filmed together. Surprising confidences from the one who “do not like” the name Deneuve.
V.B.