Origins & Early Life

Jeanne Florentine Bourgeois (5 April 1873 – 5 January 1956), known professionally as Mistinguett (French: [mistɛ̃ɡɛt]), was a French actress and singer. She was at one time the highest-paid female entertainer in the world. At the time of her unofficial retirement in 1955, Mistinguett had 60 years of experience under her belt. Mistinguett has been credited with performing in 31 movies, 9 shows, and 389 musical works.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

The daughter of Antoine Bourgeois, a 31-year-old day-labourer, and Jeannette Debrée, a 21-year-old seamstress, Jeanne Bourgeois was born at 5 Rue du Chemin-de-Fer (today Rue Gaston-Israël), in Enghien-les-Bains, Val-d'Oise, Île-de-France, France. The family moved to Soisy-sous-Montmorency where she spent her childhood; her parents later worked as mattress-makers. At an early age Bourgeois aspired to be an entertainer. She began as a flower seller in a restaurant in her hometown, singing popular ballads as she sold blossoms. At the young age of 10 she managed to get a job raising and lowering curtains at the Casino de Paris.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

After taking classes in theatre and singing, she began her career as an entertainer in the 1880s. One day on the...

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