Marie Cardinal, born Simone Odette Marie-Thérèse Cardinal, was a French novelist and occasional actress, renowned for her captivating literary works and memorable acting performances.
Born on March 9, 1929, in French Algeria, Cardinal was the sister of the esteemed film director Pierre Cardinal. She received a degree in philosophy from the prestigious Sorbonne and later married French playwright, actor, and director Jean-Pierre Ronfard in 1953. Together, they had three children: Alice, Benoit, and Benedict.
From 1953 to 1960, Cardinal taught philosophy at schools in various locations, including Salonica, Lisbon, Vienna, and Montreal. Her literary career began in 1962 with the publication of her debut novel, Écoutez la Mer (Listen to the Sea). Throughout the 1960s, she continued to publish novels and was involved in the film industry, making appearances in notable films such as Jean-Luc Godard's Deux Ou Trois Choses Que Je Sais D'elle (1967) and Robert Bresson's Mouchette (1967),where she played the iconic role of Mouchette's mother.
In 1972, Cardinal published La Clé Sur La Porte (The Key of the Door),which was followed by the best-selling novel Les Mots Pour Le Dire (The Words to Say It) in 1975. Les Mots Pour Le Dire was the first of Cardinal's works to be published in the United States, solidifying her reputation as a prominent French author.
