CHAMPMESL, MARIE

born Feb. 18, 1642, Rouen, Fr. died May 15, 1698, Auteuil byname La Champmesl, ne Marie Desmares French tragedienne who created the heroines in many of Jean Racine's plays. The daughter of an actor, she married the actor Charles Chevillet Champmesl in 1666, and by 1669 both were members of the Thtre du Marais in Paris. In 1670 they joined the Htel de Bourgogne, where she had her first success as Hermione in Racine's Andromaque. Only with difficulty could Racine be persuaded by his friends to see the newcomer's debut, but after the performance he swore to write more roles for her. Thereafter her greatest triumphs were in such Racinian parts as the title role of Brnice, Roxane in Bajazet, Monime in Mithridate, and the heroines of Iphignie and Phdre. Racine, who became her lover, tutored her in her parts and imparted to her the system of musical declamation he had developed. The art with which she employed her voice attracted playgoers, who came, according to Mme de Svign, to admire the actress, not the play. In 1679 she left the Htel for the amalgamated Molire-Marais company, which was to form the nucleus of the Comdie-Franaise (1680). She became the leading lady of the Comdie-Franaise, playing opposite Michel Baron.