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Annette VadimDanish actress
Date of Birth: 07.12.1936
Country:  Denmark |
Content:
Biography of Annette Vadim
Annette Vadim was a Danish actress who gained fame in the 1950s as the second wife of French director Roger Vadim. Known for her captivating beauty and sensuality, Annette was often compared to the iconic Brigitte Bardot.
Early Life and Career
Annette Vadim, born Annette Suzanne Stroyberg on December 7, 1936, on the island of Funen, Denmark, hailed from the homeland of Hans Christian Andersen. Her father, a physician, passed away when she was very young. Annette later moved to Paris and began working as a model for various fashion houses, eventually collaborating with renowned brands like Chanel.
During the filming of Roger Vadim's legendary comedy "And God Created Woman" in 1956, Annette caught the director's attention and they started a relationship. This film had skyrocketed Brigitte Bardot's popularity, but Vadim shifted his focus to Annette. In 1957, Annette gave birth to their daughter, Nathalie. Roger Vadim was determined to mold Annette into a replica of Bardot and saw the potential in her.
Rise to Stardom
Annette Vadim's breakthrough came with her role as Marianne in the classic drama "Les Liaisons Dangereuses" (Dangerous Liaisons). Her portrayal of the innocent Marianne, caught in a web of affairs orchestrated by the married couple Juliette and Valmont, earned her critical acclaim. However, her dazzling debut did not overshadow the achievements of other renowned actors, and Annette herself was not yet ready for more significant roles.
She gained further recognition when Vadim cast her in the horror film "Blood and Roses" (1960) as the young Camilla, whose soul is possessed by the spirit of her vampire ancestor. Unfortunately, by the time the horror film was released, Annette and Roger's marriage had already dissolved. Vadim, known for his romantic pursuits, moved on to develop a career with Catherine Deneuve. Meanwhile, Annette befriended Brigitte Bardot and frequently visited her in Saint-Tropez.
Later Life and Legacy
Annette found herself in Italy, where she took unforgettable photographs and reclaimed her maiden name, Stroyberg. She had romantic relationships with playboy actors like Vittorio Gassman, Omar Sharif, Alain Delon, and Warren Beatty. Annette added a few more films to her repertoire, including the comedy "Carabiniere a cavallo," the drama "Don Giovanni on the French Riviera," and the crime-action film "Un soir... par hasard."
Her last film was the Italian movie "Lo scippo" in 1965, featuring Paolo Ferrari. Annette eventually decided to retire from acting and embraced a glamorous lifestyle. She married a French-Moroccan ship magnate, Gregory Callimanopulos, and split her time between Paris and Africa. After her divorce, she married Greek shipping tycoon Gregory Callimanopulos and settled in America. However, this union also ended in divorce, leading Annette to return to Europe.
At Roger Vadim's funeral in 2000, his former wives Brigitte Bardot, Annette Vadim, Jane Fonda, and Catherine Schneider, as well as his then-wife Marie-Christine Barrault, were present. Annette Vadim passed away from cancer on December 12, 2005, in Copenhagen, Denmark, at the age of 71. She left behind three children, one from each of her marriages. Her daughter Nathalie later became a second assistant director and assisted her father, Roger Vadim, in directing a remake of "And God Created Woman," starring Rebecca De Mornay.
