Suzanne Cloutier, a lovely French Canadian actress, was born into a large family, with no fewer than six brothers and sisters. Growing up in the heart of nature, with her parents owning a house in the woods, she was surrounded by the beauty of the outdoors.
As she grew older, Suzanne became a model in New York, where her striking features caught the attention of director-producer George Stevens. He offered her a contract, but she declined due to her limited English skills at the time.
Undeterred, Suzanne continued to hone her language skills, eventually landing a role with a drama company featuring the renowned Charles Laughton. Her American experience led her to join Jean Dasté's company in France, where she began to make a name for herself on the stage.
Suzanne's breakthrough role came when she was hired by Julien Duvivier for her first major film role, playing the unfortunate Marie Lambert in The Sinners (1949). Her performance in the film caught the attention of director Marcel Carné, who cast her as Juliette, the dream lover of Gérard Philipe, in his poetic drama Juliette ou La clef des songes (1951).
The highlight of Suzanne's career came when Orson Welles chose her to play the role of Desdemona in his adaptation of William Shakespeare's Othello (1951). Her poignant portrayal of the doomed wife of the jealous Moor earned her widespread acclaim, and it seemed as though she was on the cusp of a brilliant career.
However, Suzanne chose to prioritize her family life over her artistic pursuits, marrying the renowned actor Peter Ustinov and effectively retiring from the spotlight. While this decision may have been a disappointment to her fans, Suzanne has always spoken fondly of her married life, expressing her happiness and contentment with the choices she made.
