French actress Marina Vlady dies at 88

September 24, 2026 at 09:38 PM2 min

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French actress, singer and writer Marina Vlady died on September 24 at the age of 88, her family told AFP. Vlady, born to Russian émigré parents, appeared in more than 100 films and won the Best Actress prize at the 1963 Cannes Film Festival. She was the widow of Soviet singer Vladimir Vysotsky.

Key Facts

Marina Vlady died on September 24 at the age of 88, her family told AFP.
She won the Best Actress prize at the 1963 Cannes Film Festival for her role in Marco Ferreri's 'The Conjugal Bed'.
Vlady appeared in more than 100 films during her career.
She was married to Soviet singer Vladimir Vysotsky from 1970 until his death in 1980.
Vlady was born on May 10, 1938, in Clichy, France, to Russian émigré parents.

Career and Accolades

Vlady made her film debut in 1949 in 'Summer Storm' at the age of 10. She married director Robert Hossein at 17 and appeared in four of his films, including 'The Wretches Shall Go to Hell' and 'Night of the Spies'. In 1963, she received the Best Actress award at the Cannes Film Festival for 'The Conjugal Bed', directed by Marco Ferreri. During the 1960s, Vlady worked with Jean-Luc Godard and later starred in popular French comedies. By the late 1970s, her filmography included more than 60 films shot in France, Italy, and the USSR.

Family and Personal Life

Vlady was born Ekaterina Marina Vladimirovna Polyakova-Baydarova on May 10, 1938, in Clichy-la-Garenne, France. Her father, opera singer Vladimir Polyakov-Baydarov, left Russia during World War I, and her mother, ballerina Militsa Envald, emigrated to France in 1919. She began as a young dancer at the Paris Opera before turning to acting. Vlady was married to Vladimir Vysotsky from 1970 until his death in 1980. Her film partners included Marcello Mastroianni and Vladimir Vysotsky.