Actor
Marpessa Dawn
1934 – 2008
Full page on IMDbWho they are
- Born
- 3 January 1934, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
- Died
- 25 August 2008
- Known for
- Black Orpheus
, Africa on the Seine, Le Bal du comte d'Orgel
Marpessa Dawn (1934–2008) was a Pittsburgh-born actress, singer and dancer who worked mainly in France. She is best remembered as Eurydice in Marcel Camus's Black Orpheus (1959), a defining role of late-1950s world cinema. She later appeared in European art-house and French productions.
Where to start
Black Orpheus (1959)Full guide
Her signature role as Eurydice in a internationally acclaimed retelling of the Orpheus myth set in Rio carnival.
Africa on the Seine (1955)Log in to add it to the library
Early screen credit in a film about African students in Paris, made during her first years in France.
Le Bal du comte d'Orgel (1970)Log in to add it to the library
Appearance in a French literary adaptation, showing her continued work in French cinema after Black Orpheus.
Sweet Movie (1974)Log in to add it to the library
Role in Dušan Makavejev's provocative, controversial art-house film, a later career highlight.
Their films in the library
Awards
No major individual awards are documented here, though Black Orpheus, her best-known film, won the 1959 Palme d'Or at Cannes.
The full list · 11
- 1955Africa on the SeineLog in to add it to the libraryActor
- 1957ÉlisaLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Negress
- 1958WomaneaterLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Native Girl
- 1959Black OrpheusLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Eurydice
- 1961The Secret of the Blue MenLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Malika
- 196338-24-36Log in to add it to the libraryActor as Self
- 1966Chérie NoireLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Chérie
- 1970Le Bal du comte d'OrgelLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Marie
- 1972Boubou cravateLog in to add it to the libraryActor
- 1974Sweet MovieLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Mama Communa
- 1979Private CollectionsLog in to add it to the libraryActor as a siren
Filmography data from TMDB. The profile text is a draft written for Cinespective.