Ubizo lukaBernhardt lwaqala ngo1862, xa wayesengumfundi eComédie-Française. Wayehamba nzima apho, waza washiya waya kuba ngumsebenzi wenkundla zamatyala ngo1865. Waqala ukubanodumo eEurope ngoo1870, waza wathi ngokukhawuleza wabizwa ngapha nangapha kulo lonke elaseyurophu naseNew York. Waba ngoyena mdlali weqonga udumileyo ngeminyaka yenkulungwane ye-19. Wafunda ulutsha oluninzi kumantombazana ukudlala eqongeni, omnye wabo yaba nguLiane de Pougy.