Nicole Germain
Encyclopedia
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.
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. 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. 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.
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.
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.
In 1974 Nicole Germain was named a Member of the Order of Canada
for her efforts to promote the French language
.
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
(Nov. 29, 1917 - Feb. 11, 1994) was a Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
actress in Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
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.
Personal life
Nicole Germain's father was George Landrau, director of the Montreal Conservatory. Germain's real name was Marcelle Landreau. She was also niece to Chief Justice Rinfret. She studied at the Lassalle conservatory.Career
Germain began acting in radio in 1939 and became so popular she was voted the French Canadian "Miss Radio 1946".Success in radio led Germain to a role starring in the French version, La Fortresse
La Forteresse (film)
La Forteresse is a 1947 Canadian feature film directed by Fyodor Otsep that uses a french language screenplay by Rian James and Leonard Lee...
, of the 1947 film Whispering City
Whispering City
Whispering City is a black-and-white film directed by Fyodor Otsep. The movie was filmed on location in Quebec City and Montmorency Falls, Québec, Canada in both English and French. A French language version La Forteresse, with different actors, was made simultaneously...
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. 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. 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?
What's My Line?
What's My Line? is a panel game show which originally ran in the United States on the CBS Television Network from 1950 to 1967, with several international versions and subsequent U.S. revivals. The game tasked celebrity panelists with questioning contestants in order to determine their occupations....
, 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.
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.
At a conference on the French language held at the Menton
Menton
Menton is a commune in the Alpes-Maritimes department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France.Situated on the French Riviera, along the Franco-Italian border, it is nicknamed la perle de la France ....
, France
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...
in 1971, Germain urged the creation of an organization to find substitute French words when new English words are created.
In 1974 Nicole Germain was named a Member of the Order of Canada
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
for her efforts to promote the French language
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
.