Nicole Germain, C.M. (Nov. 29, 1917 - Feb. 11, 1994) was a Canadian actress in Quebec radio and film in the 40s and 50s and later as a journalist. In 1974, she was named a member of the Order of Canada.
Contents |
Nicole Germain's father was George Landrau, director of the Montreal Conservatory. Germain's real name was Marcelle Landreau.[1] She was also niece to Chief Justice Rinfret.[2] She studied at the Lassalle conservatory.[1]
Germain began acting in radio in 1939 and became so popular she was voted the French Canadian "Miss Radio 1946".[1][3][4]
Success in radio led Germain to a role starring in the French version, La Fortresse, of the 1947 film Whispering City which is notable as one of the earliest attempts of a Canadian film to break into the U.S. market. The film, popular in Quebec, the English version failed to find an audience, either in the United States or Canada.[5] In 1949, she played Donalda in the film adaptation of Claude-Henri Grignon’s novel Un homme et son péché, followed by the film Séraphin a year later.[1] In 1952, she played a concert pianist in Le rossignol et les cloches.
She then had a long career as a television journalist and moderator. She was a panelist on the 1950s Quebec version of What's My Line?, Chacun son Metier. In 1955 she appeared as a contestant on the American What's My Line? (Episode #242), first as a contestant, then joining the panel next to Bennet Cerf.[6]
She was co-chairman of the 1960 Christmas Gift Campaign for the Quebec Division of the Canadian Mental Health Association which raised gifts for Quebec's hospitalized mentally ill.[7]
At a conference on the French language held at the Menton, France in 1971, Germain urged the creation of an organization to find substitute French words when new English words are created.[8]
In 1974 Nicole Germain was named a Member of the Order of Canada for her efforts to promote the French language.[9]