Coccinelle (entertainer)
Encyclopedia
Coccinelle was a French
transsexual actress and entertainer. Hers was the first widely publicized sexual reassignment
case in Europe, where she was a national celebrity and a renowned club singer.
under the name of Jacques Charles Dufresnoy, she took the stage name Coccinelle (French for "Ladybird
") --
when she entered show business, making her debut as a transgender showgirl in 1953 at Chez Madame Arthur. She later performed regularly at the famous nightclub Le Carrousel de Paris, which also featured regular acts by other famous transsexuals such as April Ashley
and Marie-Pier Ysser
. In 1958, she traveled to Casablanca
to undergo a vaginoplasty by Dr. Georges Burou
.
She was born at rue Notre Dame de Nazareth Nr.66 in the 3e arrondissement.
s of the day. Historian Joanne Meyerowitz wrote "the more sexualized MTF showed up in the sensationalized press in the stories on Coccinelle, who worked at Le Carrousel in Paris". In 1959 she appeared in Europa di notte by director Alessandro Blasetti
. That same year, Italian singer Ghigo Agosti
dedicated the song “Coccinella” to her, provoking widespread consternation and controversy. Coccinelle appeared in the 1962 film Los Viciosos and was the first French transsexual woman to become a major star, when Bruno Coquatrix
splashed her name in red letters on the front of Paris Olympia
for her 1963 revue, "Cherchez la Femme". She later appeared in the 1968 film Días de Viejo Color.
In Hebrew, the word coccinelle (קוקסינל, pronounced koksinel) is used as a synonym for transsexual, often derogatorily.
. Coccinelle was hospitalized in July 2006 following a stroke
and died that October at Marseille
.
Coccinelle No 2 (President Records No 12" cda 1052)
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
transsexual actress and entertainer. Hers was the first widely publicized sexual reassignment
Sex reassignment surgery
Sex reassignment surgery is a term for the surgical procedures by which a person's physical appearance and function of their existing sexual characteristics are altered to resemble...
case in Europe, where she was a national celebrity and a renowned club singer.
Early life and career
Born in ParisParis
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
under the name of Jacques Charles Dufresnoy, she took the stage name Coccinelle (French for "Ladybird
Coccinellidae
Coccinellidae is a family of beetles, known variously as ladybirds , or ladybugs . Scientists increasingly prefer the names ladybird beetles or lady beetles as these insects are not true bugs...
") --
when she entered show business, making her debut as a transgender showgirl in 1953 at Chez Madame Arthur. She later performed regularly at the famous nightclub Le Carrousel de Paris, which also featured regular acts by other famous transsexuals such as April Ashley
April Ashley
April Ashley is an English model and restaurant hostess. She was the first British person to be outed as a transsexual, which was by the Sunday People in 1961...
and Marie-Pier Ysser
Marie-Pier Ysser
Marie-Pierre Pruvot is an Algerian-born French transsexual woman who performed under the stage name Bambi. She performed in a transgender showgirl revue at Le Carrousel de Paris for approximately 20 years....
. In 1958, she traveled to Casablanca
Casablanca
Casablanca is a city in western Morocco, located on the Atlantic Ocean. It is the capital of the Grand Casablanca region.Casablanca is Morocco's largest city as well as its chief port. It is also the biggest city in the Maghreb. The 2004 census recorded a population of 2,949,805 in the prefecture...
to undergo a vaginoplasty by Dr. Georges Burou
Georges Burou
Georges Burou was a French gynecologist who managed a clinic in Casablanca, Morocco and is widely credited with innovating modern sex reassignment surgery for trans women.Notable patients include Coccinelle, April Ashley and Jan Morris....
.
She was born at rue Notre Dame de Nazareth Nr.66 in the 3e arrondissement.
Media sensation
She very quickly became a media sensation upon her return to France as a woman, with a look and stage act based on the prominent sex symbolSex symbol
A sex symbol is a celebrity of either gender, typically an actor, musician, supermodel, teen idol, or sports star, noted for their sex appeal. The term was first used in the mid 1950s in relation to the popularity of certain Hollywood stars, especially Marilyn Monroe and Brigitte...
s of the day. Historian Joanne Meyerowitz wrote "the more sexualized MTF showed up in the sensationalized press in the stories on Coccinelle, who worked at Le Carrousel in Paris". In 1959 she appeared in Europa di notte by director Alessandro Blasetti
Alessandro Blasetti
Alessandro Blasetti was an Italian film director who influenced Italian neorealism with the film Quattro passi fra le nuvole...
. That same year, Italian singer Ghigo Agosti
Ghigo Agosti
Ghigo Agosti is an Italian singer, musician and composer.-Ghigo and orchestra:* 1954 Georgia on My Mind autoproduction-Decca -Ghigo e gli arrabbiati:...
dedicated the song “Coccinella” to her, provoking widespread consternation and controversy. Coccinelle appeared in the 1962 film Los Viciosos and was the first French transsexual woman to become a major star, when Bruno Coquatrix
Bruno Coquatrix
Bruno Coquatrix, was born in Ronchin, Nord on 5 August 1910 and died in Paris on 1 April 1979, buried in the famous Père Lachaise Cemetery . He is mainly known as the owner and manager of the music hall Paris Olympia...
splashed her name in red letters on the front of Paris Olympia
Paris Olympia
The Olympia is a music hall in the 9th arrondissement of Paris. Located at No. 28, Boulevard des Capucines, its closest métro/RER stations are Madeleine, Opéra, Havre – Caumartin and Auber....
for her 1963 revue, "Cherchez la Femme". She later appeared in the 1968 film Días de Viejo Color.
In Hebrew, the word coccinelle (קוקסינל, pronounced koksinel) is used as a synonym for transsexual, often derogatorily.
Activism and later life
Coccinelle worked extensively as an activist on behalf of transgendered people, founding the organization "Devenir Femme" (To Become Woman), which was designed to provide emotional and practical support for those seeking sexual reassignment surgery. She also helped establish the Center for Aid, Research, and Information for Transsexuality and Gender Identity. In addition, her first marriage was the first transsexual union to be officially acknowledged by the government of France, establishing transgendered persons' legal right to marry. Her 1987 autobiography Coccinelle was published by Daniel FilipacchiDaniel Filipacchi
Daniel Filipacchi is the Chairman Emeritus of Hachette Filipacchi Médias.His life and career have been noted for his passionate involvement in art collecting, photography, and jazz...
. Coccinelle was hospitalized in July 2006 following a stroke
Stroke
A stroke, previously known medically as a cerebrovascular accident , is the rapidly developing loss of brain function due to disturbance in the blood supply to the brain. This can be due to ischemia caused by blockage , or a hemorrhage...
and died that October at Marseille
Marseille
Marseille , known in antiquity as Massalia , is the second largest city in France, after Paris, with a population of 852,395 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Marseille extends beyond the city limits with a population of over 1,420,000 on an area of...
.
Discography
Coccinelle No 1 (President Records No 38." cda 1052)- Tu t'fous de moi [You don't care about me]
- L'Amour a fleur de coeur
- Prends-moi ou laisse-moi [Take me or leave me]
- Tu es là [You are there]
Coccinelle No 2 (President Records No 12" cda 1052)
- Je cherche un millionnaire [I'm looking for a millionaire]
- Avec mon petit faux-cul [With my little false bottom]