Dumesnil, Marie Françoise (1713–1803)

French actress. Name variations: Mlle Dumesnil. Pronunciation: Du-may-NEL. Born Marie Françoise Marchand in Paris, France, on January 2, 1713; died at Boulogne-sur-Mer, France, on February 20, 1803.

Marie Marchand was born in Paris in 1713. Under her chosen stagename of Marie Françoise Dumesnil, she made her debut at the Comédie Théâtre Français in 1737 as Clytemnestra in Iphigénie en Tauride, and at once won a high place among dramatic artists of her time. Among her great parts were Athalie, Phèdre, Médéa, Agrippina , and Sémiramis (Sammuramat ). Dumesnil's imposing appearance and power gave her immense control over her audiences. It is said that during one performance those in the front seats were so overcome with horror that they fled their seats. Voltaire remarked that in his play Mérope she kept the audience in tears for three successive acts.

Although her great emotional intensity led many to rank Dumesnil above Mlle Clairon , there were critics who resented the innovations of her forceful genius and those who felt she lacked Clairon's control. Unlike Clairon, Dumesnil had no interest in stage reform and thought the actor should always be magnificently dressed no matter what the part. When Clairon, in her memoirs, spoke ill of her, Dumesnil authorized the publication of Mémoire de Marie Françoise Dumesnil, en réponse aux mémoires d'Hippolyte Clairon (1800). She continued performing until 1775, when she retired upon a pension. Marie Dumesnil died at Boulogne-sur-Mer 28 years later, at the age of 90.