Yvonne Monlaur — Biography
Yvonne Monlaur, born Yvonne-Thérèse-Marie-Camille Bédat de Monlaur on December 15, 1939, passed away in Paris, France, on April 18, 2017, at the age of 77. She was a French actress whose career flourished in the late 1950s and 1960s, gaining particular recognition for her contributions to Hammer horror productions.
Born in Paris, Monlaur's lineage included a poet father, Pierre Bédat de Monlaur, who hailed from a distinguished French noble family. Her mother had a background in ballet. This artistic environment likely influenced Monlaur, as she herself trained in ballet during her youth and later pursued a career as a fashion model as a teenager.
Her acting career saw her feature in the 1958 Italian production Three Strangers in Rome, a film notable for featuring early work from Claudia Cardinale. In 1960, she appeared in the horror film Circus of Horrors, sharing the screen with established British actors like Anton Diffring and Donald Pleasence. That same year, Monlaur took on a role in the iconic Hammer horror film The Brides of Dracula, alongside renowned British performers Peter Cushing and Freda Jackson. She continued her work with Hammer in 1961, starring in The Terror of the Tongs with Christopher Lee. Monlaur also auditioned for the part of Domino Derval in the 1965 James Bond film Thunderball, a role that ultimately went to fellow French actress Claudine Auger.
Following her work on several films in Germany and Italy, Monlaur eventually stepped away from the film industry and returned to her native Paris. In her later years, she occasionally attended film conventions, participating in events that celebrated her involvement in the memorable Hammer films. Yvonne Monlaur is survived by her son, Alexis.
Born in Paris, Monlaur's lineage included a poet father, Pierre Bédat de Monlaur, who hailed from a distinguished French noble family. Her mother had a background in ballet. This artistic environment likely influenced Monlaur, as she herself trained in ballet during her youth and later pursued a career as a fashion model as a teenager.
Her acting career saw her feature in the 1958 Italian production Three Strangers in Rome, a film notable for featuring early work from Claudia Cardinale. In 1960, she appeared in the horror film Circus of Horrors, sharing the screen with established British actors like Anton Diffring and Donald Pleasence. That same year, Monlaur took on a role in the iconic Hammer horror film The Brides of Dracula, alongside renowned British performers Peter Cushing and Freda Jackson. She continued her work with Hammer in 1961, starring in The Terror of the Tongs with Christopher Lee. Monlaur also auditioned for the part of Domino Derval in the 1965 James Bond film Thunderball, a role that ultimately went to fellow French actress Claudine Auger.
Following her work on several films in Germany and Italy, Monlaur eventually stepped away from the film industry and returned to her native Paris. In her later years, she occasionally attended film conventions, participating in events that celebrated her involvement in the memorable Hammer films. Yvonne Monlaur is survived by her son, Alexis.
