Sarah Bernhardt: legendary actress and mother of an only son

Sarah Bernhardt was a theater icon and regarded as one of the best actresses of her era. She became known as "the Divine Sarah" thanks to her captivating dramatic flair and potent performances, which enthralled audiences everywhere. In addition to her work, Sarah was a mother to an only son named Maurice, who was very significant in her life.

It was difficult to juggle motherhood and a demanding career at the time, as women were frequently expected to choose between the two. But Sarah embraced both with fierce abandon. Despite some difficulties along the road, she and Maurice had a deeply loving relationship.

In addition to being a famous and successful stage actress, Sarah Bernhardt is also known for being a trailblazing woman who successfully managed the challenges of being a single mother while leading an extraordinary life.

Aspect Details
Full Name Sarah Bernhardt
Birth October 22, 1844
Death March 26, 1923
Profession Actress
Notable Achievement One of the most famous actresses of the 19th century
Family Mother of an only son, Maurice Bernhardt
Son"s Birth April 19, 1864
Son"s Profession Actor and director
Legacy Remembered for her powerful performances and dedication to her son

Sarah Bernhardt"s childhood

The future well-known actress was born with the name Henriette Rosine Bernhardt. On October 22, 1844, she was born in Paris. Paul Morel, a French officer, or Edouard Bernard, a lawyer, is the girl’s father. Despite knowing her father, she did not even mention him in her memoirs.

"Judith (later Julia) Bernard, Rosin’s mother, was a courtesan from a Jewish family. Her personal life was disrupted by the birth of her daughter, so she promptly sent the child to Brittany, where she resided with a wet nurse.

At the age of four, the girl almost burned to death when, through an oversight, she came too close to the fireplace. Little Rosin was saved and returned to her mother, who had to interrupt her trip around Europe with another patron. Judith treated her daughter herself, applied ointment for burns, from which miraculously no traces remained. However, Rosin did not live long with her mother, who again handed her over to the care of a nanny. And when the girl broke her arm and leg, she took her back to her. Judith showed her love and care for her daughter as best she could, but often left or sent the girl away. Rosin was bored and often sick. She constantly coughed, and doctors predicted her imminent death from tuberculosis.

Rosin was sent to a boarding school when she was seven years old, and she stayed there for two years. She started acting in school plays after falling in love with the theater there. It was then decided to give the impudent girl, who occasionally erupted into angry outbursts, to nuns for training. This did little to calm young Rosin’s temper.

She was banished from the monastery four times for misbehavior and pranks, but each time she was accepted back, the future actress convincingly portrayed repentance.

Her mother chose to marry off her disobedient daughter at an early age just to be safe. She then announced that she had made the decision to enter a monastery. She actually had no dreams of monastic or marital bonds at all; instead, her dreams were of the theater, admirers, and freedom. And when the girl was sixteen, she enrolled in the conservatorium to pursue her dream of becoming an actress, all thanks to the support of her mother’s admirer, the Duke de Morny.

When Sarah was eighteen, she was invited to audition for a part in Racine’s play Iphigenia in Aulis at the Comédie Française, the oldest theater in Paris. Subsequently, the alias Sarah Bernhardt emerged. And so the legend—the well-known actress—began.

Renowned as one of the most iconic actresses of her era, Sarah Bernhardt was a loving mother to her only son, Maurice, in addition to being a theatrical trailblazer. Bernhardt demonstrated that motherhood remained at the center of her life even in the spotlight by juggling her love and devotion for her child with her demanding career and extravagant persona.

Mother"s lessons

Sarah is not a beautiful person. She was also extremely thin, which was viewed as a major drawback at the time. Nevertheless, she performed in a way that made the audience forget about everything, worshiping her as a goddess and overlooking her ridiculous antics. Sarah learned how to turn heads from living in her mother’s home as a courtesan for several years. Books have allegedly been written about her love affairs, and it was claimed that she had thousands of lovers.

The sensationalized legend "The Love of Sarah Bernhardt" claimed that the actress wooed every head of state in Europe, including the Pope.

Furthermore, Sarah had no urgency to refute the legends. She was aware of their benefits to her career.

And her career began with a scandal: Sarah slapped the prima. She was kicked out of the theater, and it seemed that this event would ruin the girl"s career. But this did not happen. Sarah regularly changed theaters and shone everywhere. Once, a 20-year-old actress, having decided that she was not appreciated enough, took an unauthorized leave from the theater and with a letter of recommendation from Alexandre Dumas went to Brussels. There, at a ball, she met Duke Henri de Ligne. A feeling flared up, the young man was ready to get married, and Sarah was ready to get married. Henri set only one condition – to leave the stage. And Bernhardt was ready to make this sacrifice. Only the noble relatives of the Duke were against having a daughter-in-law-actress, which in those days was equivalent to a courtesan, and even an illegitimate Jew. Sarah was persuaded not to ruin her lover"s life, and she agreed. And she explained to the Duke that she was simply not ready to leave the theater for him.

Sarah Bernhardt as a mother

On December 22, 1864, Maurice, the son of Duke Henri de Ligne and Sarah Bernhardt, was born. The actress gave birth to her first and only child at the age of 20.

Bernhardt never revealed her son’s father to others and gave her son her last name. Journalists questioned her, to which she replied that she couldn’t recall; perhaps it was General Boulanger, perhaps Victor Hugo, or another person. Jokes like this wouldn’t hurt her career because she had been involved in so many scandals in her life. Conversely, they increased curiosity.

Sarah returned to the theater in order to provide for her young son and herself. She assumed any role at that point. The actress was forced to accept parts in lighthearted comedies even though she wanted to play in a drama. Due to her hectic schedule with theater shows, Bernhardt was unable to give her son enough attention. It wasn’t just about the money either. Sarah came to the realization that everything else was secondary to her true calling—the arts.

The boy gave his mother his undivided love. She was a goddess to him as a child, and he accepted the forced time apart and infrequent encounters without question.

And Sarah concluded that she had done her part as a mother. She was done having kids. She committed herself to realizing her dream of shining.

Many years later, Maurice’s father made the offer to formally acknowledge his son and grant him a title and surname. The young man said that his last name was Bernard and that it was a perfect fit for him, declining the offer.

At all costs

Sarah soon discovered that men only come into her life temporarily. with the exception of her son. There will always be the theater and him. Despite altering numerous lovers and scenes, the actress remained faithful to her craft. She battled her way past scorn and thorns. "At all costs" ended up being her catchphrase. Sarah was inspired by this phrase and decided to embellish her letter paper, handkerchiefs, and mirrors.

The Franco-Prussian War broke out when Sarah was twenty-six years old, and eventually German forces besieged Paris.

Sarah sent her six-year-old son away from the front lines with a nanny and family members. She herself stayed in the city and converted her former workplace, the Odeon theater, into a hospital.

While fans flocked to the theater-hospital, she was employed there as a nurse. They were willing to do whatever it took to get the star to sign an autograph. And the actress either sent them to the operating rooms to assist the doctors or sent them for food, bandages, and firewood.

And one day Sarah got into a fight on the street with a man who was cruel to a dog. She loved animals, and at home, to Maurice"s delight, there was a whole zoo. In addition to four dogs and a cockatoo, a monkey and a boa constrictor lived in the Bernhardt house. And with the money she earned from selling her own paintings, Sarah bought a snow-white wolfhound and a cheetah. Once, in a particularly cold Parisian winter, the actress paid two thousand francs for bread to feed hungry sparrows. And all this against the backdrop of wild gossip about crazy romances, a fire that the star allegedly set herself, and a coffin in which she supposedly sleeps… However, Sarah herself often multiplied and fueled these rumors for the sake of publicity.

The Marriage of Sarah Bernhardt

Sarah made a self-promise to stay single after her marriage to her son’s father ended. Her many relationships continued despite this.

Thus, in 1881, while on a tour through Russia, the 37-year-old actress encountered a man she desired to marry. Jacques Damala, whose true name was Aristide, was 11 years Sarah’s junior. Not to mention a drug addict and a gigolo.

Spoiled by women, Jacques lived off of them, never really pursuing a career despite going to work. But he left the service "for Sarah’s sake." The marriage ceremony was held in Naples in March of 1882. Sarah adopted the Bernard-Damala double surname. The actress put up with her husband’s dependence, jealousy, and betrayals throughout their entire marriage, bearing the brunt of it. She tried to get him roles in the acting company first, then included him in it.

When a newborn girl in a basket was tossed to the couple’s front door one day, it turned out to be Jacques’ illegitimate daughter. Sarah was so distraught that she secretly considered drowning the child. However, all worked out well in the end because a family friend adopted the girl. Jacques’s story of addiction, however, ended tragically when he overdosed and passed away.

Son – the support in Sarah Bernhardt"s life

Maurice, Sarah’s son, grew up in the interim. Having grown up in a theatrical family, he believed that art was the only path that would lead to success.

Maurice preferred writing plays in which his mother performed rather than acting. And Sarah gave the young man the responsibility of running the "Ambigu" theater when he turned eighteen.

After completing the task, Maurice took over the management of the theaters where his mother performed, "Porte Saint-Martin," and the former Theater of Nations, which the city of Paris had given to Sarah Bernhardt for twenty years.

Maurice was a gambler, so he was not immune to addiction. And now Sarah had to save her son from addictions after having to save her husband. This powerful woman had enough energy for everything.

The last love of Sarah Bernhardt

Sarah was constantly surrounded by men, many of whom were considerably younger than her and her son as well. Therefore, it came as no surprise when the 66-year-old actress started dating Dutch actor and model Lou Tellegen, 29. Rodin got the inspiration for his renowned "Eternal Spring" sculpture from him.

Lou lacked talent, but he was attractive. However, the besotted actress persisted in having him perform alongside her on stage. This love ultimately ended in divorce.

Sarah Bernhardt passed away at 78 years old. She performed on stage until the very last day, when her leg was amputated and she had to be carried out in arms. Maurice, her son, lived just five years longer than his mother.

Off the stage, Sarah Bernhardt’s life was every bit as dramatic as it was on it. She became a legend in the theater world thanks to her extraordinary talent and memorable roles, but her mothering role revealed a different side of her that was devoted to and full of love for her only son, Maurice.

Sarah never wavered in her support for Maurice in the face of both the demands of her career and the difficulties of being a single mother. Their relationship endured throughout her life, which is evidence of her tenacity and dedication as a mother and an artist.

In addition to her accomplishments on stage, Sarah Bernhardt’s legacy lives on in her capacity as a devoted mother. She continues to be an inspiration, demonstrating that it is feasible to juggle the demanding responsibilities of family life with a ground-breaking career.

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Svetlana Kozlova

Family consultant and family relationship specialist. I help parents build trusting relationships with their children and each other. I believe that a healthy atmosphere in the home is the key to happiness and harmony, which I share in articles and recommendations.

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