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Yvonne Printemps (Ermont, France, July 25, 1895
– January 19, 1977 in Paris, France) was a
French singer and actress.


Born Yvonne Wignolle, she was dancing in revues at
the Folies Bergère in Paris at age 13. Nicknamed
Printemps (springtime) by her fellow chorus
members because of her sunny disposition, she
started in operetta, appearing in such works as
"Les Contes de Perrault" (1913) and "Le Poilu"
(1916). Her voice and stage presence made her a
great star at a young age, appearing as a teenager
with the greatest stars of the day, Maurice
Chevalier and Mistinguett.

In 1919, she married actor-playwright Sacha
Guitry. Together they performed in a number of his
plays bringing the extremely popular 1925
production of "Mozart" to cities in North America,
including New York City, Montreal, Quebec and
Boston, Massachusetts.

In 1934 she received international acclaim for her
performance in the Noel Coward play, "Conversation
Piece." She performed in Paris and at London's
West End of London|West End before going to the
United States to star on Broadway. She appeared in
nine motion pictures, including the starring role
in both the stage and screen versions of "Le Trois
Valses."

Following her divorce from Sacha Guitry, she fell
in love with French film star Pierre Fresnay with
whom she remained for life. Loving the spotlight,
she would be seen draped with jewels and wearing
enormous hats. Personifying the grand diva, she
made a great spectacle wherever she went with her
pet poodles on a leash. 

She continued to perform on stage until she was
well into her sixties and remained active with
Pierre Fresnay, co-directing the Théâtre de la
Michodière in Paris with him until his death in
1975.

Yvonne Printemps died in the Paris suburb of
Neuilly in 1977. She is interred with her husband
in the Neuilly-sur-Seine community cemetery.

In 1994, the government of France placed her image
on a List of people on stamps of France|postage
stamp.