Lucie Dolène was a renowned French actress and singer, born on June 17, 1931, in Damascus during the French Mandate. Discovered by the renowned composer Joseph Canteloube, Dolène initially recorded Chants d'Auvergne under the pseudonym Lucie Daullène, showcasing her remarkable vocal talents.
Throughout her illustrious career, Dolène appeared in numerous musicals alongside notable performers such as Luis Mariano and Les Frères Jacques. Her impressive acting skills also led to roles in various theatrical productions, including the 1975 production of Le noir te va si bien.
In the 1950s, Dolène began dubbing voices for French film editions, including her iconic voice-over of Debbie Reynolds in the French version of Singin' in the Rain. Her remarkable soprano voice also lent itself to the 1962 film Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, in which she voiced the character of Snow White. Additionally, Dolène provided the voice of Madame Samovar in the 1991 film Beauty and the Beast.
However, Dolène's career was not without controversy. When the 1997 film Snow White was released on VHS, Dolène sued the Walt Disney Company over the rights to the use of her voice. After winning the lawsuit, Disney paid her for all the rights to her songs. In response, Disney opted for a different voice-over actress for all of its films, replacing Dolène's voice in Snow White.
In 1997, the French artist Pierre Huyghe created a documentary titled Blanche-Neige Lucie, which chronicled Dolène's lawsuit and its aftermath. Dolène eventually withdrew from the film industry in the 2010s, before passing away on April 9, 2020, at the age of 88 in Noisy-le-Grand.
Lucie Dolène's remarkable life and career were celebrated in her 2021 autobiography, co-authored by Grégoire Philibert.
