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Tsilla Chelton obituary Tsilla Chelton obituary
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With her remarkable portrayal of the cantankerous, mean-spirited and selfish widow in Tatie Danielle (1990), Tsilla Chelton joined the ranks of those elderly female performers who, after a long career in show business, suddenly find themselves as film stars. Like Katie Johnson in The Ladykillers (1955) and Ruth Gordon in Harold and Maude (1972), Chelton, who has died aged 93, finally moved into the limelight in her 70s. With her remarkable portrayal of the cantankerous, mean-spirited and selfish widow in Tatie Danielle (1990), Tsilla Chelton joined the ranks of those elderly female performers who, after a long career in show business, suddenly find themselves as film stars. Like Katie Johnson in The Ladykillers (1955) and Ruth Gordon in Harold and Maude (1971), Chelton, who has died aged 93, finally moved into the limelight in her 70s.
In this second feature directed by Étienne Chatiliez, Auntie Danielle manipulates everyone around her, including her great-nephew, his family and a housekeeper whom she regularly abuses, until she meets her match in a young woman paid to look after her. Not pathetic or twinkly-eyed, as older people are generally depicted in the movies, Chelton, in the antipathetic title role, is on screen most of the time, not seeking understanding, though somehow managing to elicit it. This part of a lifetime, after 13 years away from feature films, gained her celebrity and a César nomination for best actress.In this second feature directed by Étienne Chatiliez, Auntie Danielle manipulates everyone around her, including her great-nephew, his family and a housekeeper whom she regularly abuses, until she meets her match in a young woman paid to look after her. Not pathetic or twinkly-eyed, as older people are generally depicted in the movies, Chelton, in the antipathetic title role, is on screen most of the time, not seeking understanding, though somehow managing to elicit it. This part of a lifetime, after 13 years away from feature films, gained her celebrity and a César nomination for best actress.
Chelton was one of Eugène Ionesco's favourite actors and created several of the absurdist playwright's roles. At the age of 32, she was cast as the 94-year-old woman in the first run of Ionesco's Les Chaises (The Chairs, 1952), staged in Paris. She played the same role in many revivals over the years, gradually nearing the age of the protagonist. Chelton, with her beak nose and rather severe features, mostly played characters older than herself.Chelton was one of Eugène Ionesco's favourite actors and created several of the absurdist playwright's roles. At the age of 32, she was cast as the 94-year-old woman in the first run of Ionesco's Les Chaises (The Chairs, 1952), staged in Paris. She played the same role in many revivals over the years, gradually nearing the age of the protagonist. Chelton, with her beak nose and rather severe features, mostly played characters older than herself.
She was born in Jerusalem, the daughter of French-Jewish parents who died when she was young. She grew up in Belgium but left during the second world war to live in Switzerland, then settled in Paris. After studying mime with Marcel Marceau, she began her career on stage at the avant-garde Théâtre Lancry. She made an immediate impression in Jean Tardieu's experimental play Les Amants du Métro (The Underground Lovers) and in The Chairs. Further Ionesco plays in which she featured were Victimes du Devoir (Victims of Duty, 1953), Le Tableau (The Picture, 1955), Jacques, ou La Soumission (Jack, or The Submission, 1955), Délire à Deux (Frenzy for Two, 1962) and Le Roi Se Meurt (Exit the King, 1962).She was born in Jerusalem, the daughter of French-Jewish parents who died when she was young. She grew up in Belgium but left during the second world war to live in Switzerland, then settled in Paris. After studying mime with Marcel Marceau, she began her career on stage at the avant-garde Théâtre Lancry. She made an immediate impression in Jean Tardieu's experimental play Les Amants du Métro (The Underground Lovers) and in The Chairs. Further Ionesco plays in which she featured were Victimes du Devoir (Victims of Duty, 1953), Le Tableau (The Picture, 1955), Jacques, ou La Soumission (Jack, or The Submission, 1955), Délire à Deux (Frenzy for Two, 1962) and Le Roi Se Meurt (Exit the King, 1962).
Her other productions included Bertolt Brecht's Man Equals Man (1954) and Federico García Lorca's The House of Bernarda Alba (1957). Chelton appeared regularly on the Paris stage for more than 50 years, rarely venturing into commercial theatre, though she won acclaim in the title role in Driving Miss Daisy, staged in 1991.Her other productions included Bertolt Brecht's Man Equals Man (1954) and Federico García Lorca's The House of Bernarda Alba (1957). Chelton appeared regularly on the Paris stage for more than 50 years, rarely venturing into commercial theatre, though she won acclaim in the title role in Driving Miss Daisy, staged in 1991.
On the big screen, Chelton had small parts in likeable comedies directed by Yves Robert, especially Alexandre Le Bienheureux (Happy Alexander, 1968), as a gossipy shop owner. She played Orson Welles's alcoholic old mother in Claude Chabrol's La Décade Prodigieuse (Ten Days' Wonder, 1971). Reunited with Marceau, Chelton showed her skills in mime as a zombie in William Castle's weird Shanks (1974), as a shrewish woman who is killed and brought back to life by Marceau's deaf-mute puppeteer.On the big screen, Chelton had small parts in likeable comedies directed by Yves Robert, especially Alexandre Le Bienheureux (Happy Alexander, 1968), as a gossipy shop owner. She played Orson Welles's alcoholic old mother in Claude Chabrol's La Décade Prodigieuse (Ten Days' Wonder, 1971). Reunited with Marceau, Chelton showed her skills in mime as a zombie in William Castle's weird Shanks (1974), as a shrewish woman who is killed and brought back to life by Marceau's deaf-mute puppeteer.
After Tatie Danielle, Chelton had to wait 18 years for another film role worthy of her talent. As a country matriarch suffering from Alzheimer's disease and trying to keep her family together in Pandora's Box (2008), by the Turkish director Yesim Ustaoglu, she deservedly won a best actress award at the San Sebastián film festival.After Tatie Danielle, Chelton had to wait 18 years for another film role worthy of her talent. As a country matriarch suffering from Alzheimer's disease and trying to keep her family together in Pandora's Box (2008), by the Turkish director Yesim Ustaoglu, she deservedly won a best actress award at the San Sebastián film festival.
Chelton was married to the production designer Jacques Noël, who died last year. She is survived by four children.Chelton was married to the production designer Jacques Noël, who died last year. She is survived by four children.
• Tsilla Chelton (Tsilla Schilton), actor, born 21 June 1919; died 15 July 2012• Tsilla Chelton (Tsilla Schilton), actor, born 21 June 1919; died 15 July 2012