| Jenny Alpha | |
|---|---|
| Born | 22 April 1910 Fort-de-France, Martinique |
| Died | 8 September 2010 (aged 100) Paris, France |
| Other names | Jenny Alpha-Villard |
| Occupation | Actress, singer |
| Years active | 1963–2008 |
| Spouse | Noël Villard |
Jenny Alpha (22 April 1910 – 8 September 2010) was a Martinique-born French actress and singer, who appeared in more than a hundred theatre productions and movies.
Born in Fort-de-France, Martinique in 1910, Alpha moved to Paris in 1929 to pursue a career in teaching but became sidetracked due to her passion for theatre.[1] As well as appearing in theatre, she displayed a variety of talent and became a successful singer, appearing alongside the likes of Duke Ellington and Joséphine Baker.
During the war she played an active role in the French Resistance before meeting her husband Noël Villard, a prominent French poet. Late in life, in 2005, she appeared in the film Monsieur Étienne,[2] and in 2008 recorded a final album, La sérénade du muguet.[1]
On 1 January 2009 she was granted the title of Chevalier de la Légion d'honneur by the French government, and in 2010 Alpha celebrated her 100th birthday.[3] She died on 8 September 2010 in Paris, France.[1]