Actress Michelle Mercier was rightfully considered one of the most beautiful women who ever lived on our planet. The beautiful Marquise of Angels played more than fifty roles in films, but is most remembered for one single role. Michel Mercier is clearly associated with the unforgettable Angelique in the film adaptations of the novels by Anne and Serge Golon. Now the French actress is already 83 years old, but, unfortunately, she has not found real happiness in life and has not at least received a decent old age . Once the dream of all men, Michelle Mercier languishes in poverty.
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Michel Mercier: the role of Angelique – triumph or curse
It would seem that young actresses can only dream about the role of the beautiful Angelica. When Michelle Mercier was 24 years old, she was offered this role. And now the actress is no longer sure that she did the right thing by agreeing to filming. Yes, this is a legendary role. Our mothers also watched films about Angelica until they burst into tears. To be honest, I myself watched it five times, no less. But for Michelle Mercier, the role of the Marquise of Angels became a real curse.
Mercier in fact became an actress of one role, even though she has at least 50 films in her arsenal. The role of the indomitable Angelica gave Michelle worldwide fame and the love of fans for many years. However, at the same time, Angelica put an end to her entire future career as an actress. Michelle’s talent was simply no longer noticed behind the image of the golden-haired girl from novels about the beautiful adventurer.
Michelle Mercier gained fame, there is no doubt about it. But if we talk about the financial side of the issue, the role of Angelica did not turn the actress into a rich woman . The contract was written so cunningly that the producers of films about Angelica received fabulous money, while the actress herself was content with only small fees for filming.
It got to the point that in the late 90s, Michelle Mercier turned into a beggar. The actress lost all her savings in a financial pyramid. Then, in order to somehow survive, Mercier began to slowly sell the dresses and personal belongings of Angelica that she had under the hammer.
The actress once complained about her meager pension : “What are the ministers of culture doing to help old comedians get a minimum livelihood? Nothing. They gave me a wonderful medal. If at least it was covered in chocolate, I would eat it.”
Health problems
The price of fame turned out to be very high, because then Michelle Mercier also ruined her health on the set . During the filming of one scene, Michelle was severely whipped across the chest with a chain. At first there seemed to be nothing serious, but later a tumor formed in that place. Two whole years passed when Michelle Mercier’s dangerous formation was finally removed.
Later it only gets worse. Michelle was diagnosed with skin cancer in 2016 . “I have cancer. It always seems incredible until it happens to you. Some people cry when they hear such news. I endured them stoically, with the calmness that has always been inherent in me.”
Why Michelle Mercier’s personal life didn’t work out
In her personal life, Michelle Mercier did not find happiness, although the search was clearly impressive. The actress was married four times: two marriages were officially legalized, and two were purely factual . Michelle’s first husband was Andre Smaggi, an assistant director. But the marriage was not happy, because Michelle’s husband plunged headlong into religion. According to Mercier, he went crazy.
Race car driver Claude Burilo became Michelle’s second chosen one. But here she was even less lucky . Claude constantly cheated on his woman. He could bring another mistress almost to the shared bedroom with Michelle. In addition, Claude endlessly squandered the actress’s money, leaving her with nothing. Mercier’s next husband, American businessman Adrian Yanko, might have made the actress happy, but he literally burned down before her eyes from cancer.
Michelle, despite her love failures, continued to believe in the prince on a white horse . And, lo and behold, the prince really appeared! We’re not kidding, Michel Mercier’s fourth chosen one was a real prince from Italy. True, the fact that he is a prince did him no honor. The man left Michelle on the eve of the wedding. Probably, at that moment the beauty’s world collapsed. It’s unimaginable how the public’s favorite, the woman whom all men desired after watching films about Angelica, can be unhappy in love? How did it happen that she never met her Geoffrey de Peyrac in life? As you can see, this happens.
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How Michel Mercier lives and looks now
Now 83-year-old Michelle Mercier lives in the south of France. She practically became a recluse : she rarely appears in public and communicates with few people. Michelle is helped by her nephews and old friends.
Have you watched films with the actress? Do you love her work?
