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Geneviève Hersent

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Geneviève Hersent (born ca. 1932) is a French former actress of stage, voice and screen, singer, stuntwoman, journalist, photographer, translator, interpreter and current voluntary assistant.

Biography[]

Geneviève Hersent was born in Paris to a singer and satirical cabaret entertainer, the first female satirical humourist in Paris. Growing up during the second world war, Hersent often found herself in the confusions of bombing raids and constantly changing address.[1]

Hersent began her career under the name of Geneviève Gerald in Paris. After trying ballet for some time, Hersent moved to fencing and horseback riding. Soon, she started working in motion pictures, first as an actress in bit parts, then as a stunt double, performing dangerous feats on horseback. After her husband Philippe Hersent was called to Rome to film a movie, the couple decided to stay, as the film turned out to be a great success for Philippe.[1]

After moving to Rome, Geneviève decided to step away from the film business and instead focus on a career in journalism. She interviewed many actors and actresses for several French film magazines, to which she had become a correspondent in Rome. She reported on several important events and soon even worked for some foreign news outlets, like the ABC Network. Hersent moved on to work as the French representative for the American public relations office Paul Marsh & Associates, whose clients included Adam West and Clint Eastwood.[1]

Geneviève Hersent's dubbing career started, when she was called in by Ted Rusoff and Carolyn De Fonseca, to dub a character with a French accent. Her first major role was given to her by director Nick Alexander, who cast her as the voice of French starlet Capucine, though it is unclear, which film exactly. Hersent also frequently lent her voice to documentaries for television and education. In addition to her work as a voice actress, Hersent also often held the position of sync assistant, who ensures the right lipsync and timing of the actors.[1]

Hersent often worked with renowned directors, such as Federico Fellini, who was very fond of her and often asked her to dub his movies.[1]

Apart from English dubs, Geneviève Hersent also worked in French and Italian-language dubbing. There was a short period of time, where Italian producers used local French actors to dub their films, instead of sending the film to France. Hersent and her husband belonged to the most frequent French-language dubbers of Rome. Due to her language skills, she often dubbed films several times in different languages, such as The Inglorious Bastards (English and Italian), Nightmare City (English and French) and Leobunny (French, English and Italian). She supplied the voice of Alida Valli in the first French dub of Suspiria.[2]

After the decline of English dubbing in Rome, Hersent decided to move back to France. Her live made a significant turn, after meeting Dr. Jacques Vigne, an ex-French psychiatrist, who is working in teachings of spirituality. Hersent has since worked as Vigne's voluntary assistant, accompanying him on spirituality retreats and scheduling courses, conferences and seminars for him.[1]

Hersent has also authored several books on spirituality and her days in her previous careers.[1][2]

In the 1940s, Geneviève Gerald met French actor Philippe Hersent (real name Bernard Koevoets) and the two were married for 34 years, until Philippes death in 1982. After returning to France, Hersent met her old colleague Jean Louis again, also formerly located in Rome, and the two were romantically involved with each other until his death in 2020. Apart from her fighting and horseback riding, Hersent is also a skilled tennis player, even having played with stars such as Charlton Heston.[1][2]

Filmography[]

Live-Action Dubbing[]

TV Series[]

Films[]

References[]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 https://dubbedinrome.blogspot.com/2024/03/interview-with-genevieve-hersent.html
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 https://dubbedinrome.blogspot.com/2024/03/genevieve-hersent.html

External links[]

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