Jenny Alpha

Who was Jenny Alpha?

Jenny Alpha was a Martinique-born French actress and singer, who appeared in more than a hundred theatre productions and movies.

Born in Fort-de-France, Martinique in 1910, Alpha moved to Paris in 1929 to pursue a career in teaching but became sidetracked due to her passion for theatre. As well as appearing in theatre, she displayed a variety of talent and became a successful singer, appearing alongside the likes of Duke Ellington and Josephine Baker.

During the war she played an active role in the French Resistance before meeting her husband Noël Villard, a prominent French poet. Late in life, in 2005, she appeared in the film Monsieur Étienne, and in 2008 recorded a final album, La sérénade du muguet.

On 1 January 2009 she was granted the title of Chevalier de la Légion d'honneur by the French government, and in 2010 Alpha celebrated her 100th birthday. She died on 8 September 2010 in Paris, France.