Gabrielle Dorziat

Gabrielle Dorziat (1880–1979) was a notable French actress celebrated for her contributions to both stage and film. A prominent figure in Parisian fashion, she played a key role in popularizing Coco Chanel’s designs. The Théâtre Gabrielle-Dorziat in Épernay is named in her honor.

Born in 1880, Dorziat made her theatrical debut in 1898 at the Théâtre Royal du Parc in Brussels. She relocated to Paris, where her role as Thérèse Herbault in Chaîne anglaise (1906) garnered significant attention. Her personal life attracted media interest as well, with relationships involving actors Lucien Guitry and Louis Jouvet, alongside friendships with luminaries such as Jean Cocteau and Coco Chanel. During World War I, she toured the U.S. to raise funds for war refugees and continued her travels through Canada and South America.

In 1921, she made her film debut with L'Infante à la rose, eventually appearing in over sixty films, including Mayerling and Les Parents terribles. Dorziat married Count Michel de Zogheb in 1925 and published her memoirs, Côté cour, côté jardin, in 196