Ask the Chatbot Games & Quizzes ProCon History & Society Science & Tech Biographies Animals & Nature Geography & Travel Arts & Culture Money Videos
Mademoiselle Dumesnil
Table of Contents
Introduction References & Edit History Quick Facts & Related Topics
Images
Mlle Dumesnil, detail of an engraving
Quizzes
USA 2006 - 78th Annual Academy Awards. Closeup of giant Oscar statue at the entrance of the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles, California. Hompepage blog 2009, arts and entertainment, film movie hollywood
Pop Culture Quiz
Related Questions
Read Next
Sydney Opera House, Port Jackson, Sydney Harbour, New South Wales, Australia.
Why New York Is Called "The Big Apple" and How 8 Other Famous Cities Got Their Nicknames
Battle of Fleurus (June 16, 1794), the most significant battle in the First Coalition phase of the French Revolutionary Wars; by Jean-Baptiste Mauzaisse, 19th century.
What Led to France’s Reign of Terror?
Extension of the Louvre, Paris, designed in the Second Empire style by L.-T.-J. Visconti and Hector Lefuel, 1852-57
10 Places in (and around) Paris
poem. A poet in a Heian period kimono writes Japanese poetry during the Kamo Kyokusui No En Ancient Festival at Jonan-gu shrine on April 29, 2013 in Kyoto, Japan. Festival of Kyokusui-no Utage orignated in 1,182, party Heian era (794-1192).
World Poetry Day
Discover
John F. Kennedy as a boy with his family
What Did We Call America’s Elite Before the “1 Percent”?
The Cheshire Cat is a fictional cat from Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. (Alice in Wonderland)
11 Banned Books Through Time
Orange basketball on black background and with low key lighting. Homepage 2010, arts and entertainment, history and society
The 10 Greatest Basketball Players of All Time
Close up of books. Stack of books, pile of books, literature, reading. Homepage 2010, arts and entertainment, history and society
12 Novels Considered the “Greatest Book Ever Written”
New York NY/ USA- November 23, 2018 Hordes of shoppers throng the Macy's Herald Square flagship store in New York looking for bargains on the day after Thanksgiving, Black Friday.
Why Is It Called Black Friday?
Thanksgiving Turkey with all the sides
Why Do We Eat Turkey on Thanksgiving?
Baseball laying in the grass. Homepage blog 2010, arts and entertainment, history and society, sports and games athletics
10 Greatest Baseball Players of All Time
Mlle Dumesnil, detail of an engraving
Mlle Dumesnil, detail of an engraving

Mademoiselle Dumesnil

French actress
verifiedCite
While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.
Select Citation Style
Feedback
Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login).
Thank you for your feedback

Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

External Websites
Also known as: Marie-Françoise Marchand
Written and fact-checked by
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Article History
Quick Facts
Original name:
Marie-françoise Marchand
Born:
Jan. 2, 1713, Paris
Died:
Feb. 20, 1803, Paris (aged 90)
Also Known As:
Marie-Françoise Marchand
See all related content

Mademoiselle Dumesnil (born Jan. 2, 1713, Paris—died Feb. 20, 1803, Paris) was a French tragic actress best known for her roles in the plays of Voltaire and Jean Racine.

She made her Paris debut in 1737 at the Comédie-Française as Clytemnestre in Racine’s Iphigénie en Aulide. A fiery actress who scorned tradition, she played Cléopâtre in Corneille’s Rodogune and played Racine’s Phèdre, Athalie, and Hermione, with great effect. She retired in 1775 and 25 years later authorized publication of Mémoires de Marie-Françoise Dumesnil, in reply to an attack by her rival, the actress Mlle Clairon.

This article was most recently revised and updated by Encyclopaedia Britannica.