Bella Darvi

Infobox actor
name = Bella Darvi

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imagesize =
caption =
birthname = Bayla Wegier
birthdate = birth date|1928|10|23|mf=y
location = Sosnowiec, Poland
deathdate = death date and age|1971|9|11|1928|10|23|mf=y
deathplace = Monte Carlo, Monaco
spouse = Alban Cavalade (1950-1952)
Claude Rouas (1960-1961)
goldenglobeawards = Most Promising Newcomer - Female
1954
"The Egyptian"

Bella Darvi (23 October 1928 – 11 September 1971) was a Polish-born French actress.

Biography

Darvi was born Bayla Wegier to Chaym Wegier, a baker, and his wife, Chaya (née Zygelbaum). She has three brothers, Robert, Jacques Wegier, Jean-Isidore, and a sister, Sura. Robert died in a concentration camp.

Jailed by the Nazis during World War II, she was released in 1943. She married a businessman, Alban Cavalcade, on 7 October 1950 [cite web|url=http://www.cineartistes.com/index.php?page=afficher&id=Bella+Darvi|title=Biography: Bella Darvi|publisher=cineartistes.com] and traveled with him to Monaco. Discovered in Paris by the wife of mogul Darryl Zanuck. In 1952, she divorced Cavalcade, and moved into the Zanuck home. In August 1953, she signed a contract with Zanuck, who changed her name to "Bella Darvi", "Darvi" a combination of the first names of Zanuck and his wife, Virginia. [ [http://www.glamourgirlsofthesilverscreen.com/show/61/Bella+Darvi/index.html Bella Darvi - The Private Life and Times of Bella Darvi] ] Eventually, she became Zanuck's mistress, although she reportedly dated other men including Robert Stack and Brad Dexter.

She was Richard Widmark's love interest in Sam Fuller's 1954 film "Hell and High Water", but is probably best known for the role of Nefer, the seductive Babylonian courtesan, in "The Egyptian". Her performance, stymied by her thick accent and a lisp, was roundly panned by the critics.

Zanuck left his wife for Darvi, but left her when he discovered that she was a lesbian. On 13 November 1960, Darvi married Claude Rouas, a restaurant waiter, in Las Vegas; the marriage was annulled less than a year later.

Death

Darvi committed suicide in Monte Carlo by gas. Her body was not found for more than a week.

References

External links

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* [http://www.cineartistes.com/fiche-Bella+Darvi.html Bio on Darvi (in French)]
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Persondata
NAME= Darvi, Bella
ALTERNATIVE NAMES= Wegier, Bayla
SHORT DESCRIPTION= Actress
DATE OF BIRTH= 23 October 1928
PLACE OF BIRTH= Sosnowiec, Poland
DATE OF DEATH= 11 September 1971
PLACE OF DEATH= Monte Carlo, Monaco