Odette Laure, a multifaceted artist, was born Odette Roussillon on February 28, 1917, to the owners of the Café des Arts in Belleville. As a child, she would often climb onto tables to sing Damia and Mistinguett's songs, showcasing her natural talent at a young age.
At school, her creativity and sense of humor made her a standout, and she participated in radio contests, where she caught the attention of Saint-Granier, the host of Le Poste Parisien. He encouraged her to pursue a career as a cabaret singer, but her father refused to let her attend the Conservatory. Instead, she became a hairdresser and beautician and got married, but her husband's infidelity led to a divorce.
After the Second World War, Odette decided to follow her passion for singing and began performing at Suzy Solidor's cabaret, where she became a star. Her exuberant personality, cheeky acidulous voice, and ability to make audiences laugh earned her the Charles Cros Prize in 1954.
Odette's success led to appearances on bigger stages, including the Olympia and Bobino music-halls, as well as work on radio and French television. She also began acting, appearing in over 50 films and television shows between 1949 and 2001. Her film debut was a small role opposite Jean Gabin in the 1949 film "La Marie du port".
However, her status as a successful singer was overshadowed by the yé yé wave in the early 1960s, and she took a 12-year hiatus from the entertainment industry. During this time, she made an intellectual and metaphysical retreat to Japan.
Upon her return to France, Odette's career picked up again thanks to Jean-Laurent Cochet, who invited her to assist him in his new drama class and sponsored her theatrical debut in "Boudu sauvé des eaux". She went on to appear in many plays, operettas, and television shows, including a notable participation in Michel Drucker's TV show "Télé Gabriel".
Odette continued to work in film, often playing comedic roles in movies such as "Le Viager" (1971),"Les nanas" (1984),and "La Dilettante" (1999). One of her most notable roles was as Jane Birkin's mother and widow of Dirk Bogarde in the 1990 film "Daddy Nostalgie", for which she was nominated for the César Award for Best Supporting Actress.
As she grew older, Odette was forced to slow down due to a heart condition, but she continued to work until her death in her sleep in Paris on June 10, 2004, due to a heart attack.
