María Casares

María Casares (1922–1996) was a Spanish-born French actress celebrated chiefly for her powerful work in 20th-century French theatre. After arriving in France as an exile during the Spanish Civil War, she trained at the Paris Conservatoire, performed with the Comédie-Française and Jean Vilar’s Théâtre National Populaire, and became associated with major classical and modern roles. She also appeared in influential films including *Les Enfants du paradis* and *Orphée*.