# Tsilla Chelton

Tsilla Chelton (21 June 1919 – 15 July 2012) was a French actress of theatre and film, famous for playing the main role in 1990 film Tatie Danielle, in which she was nominated for a César Awards and as an elderly Dominican in Sister Smile.

## Biography

Tsilla Schilton was born in Jerusalem but spent her childhood in Belgium. The daughter of French parents of Jewish heritage, she lost her mother at the age of 6, and followed her father to Antwerp. She moved to Switzerland during World War II before settling in Paris. Married to decorator Jacques Noël, she had 4 children.
Attracted by theatre, she started acting in Marcel Marceau's troupe.
Her career was mainly in theatre, where she acted in the eleven works of Eugène Ionesco, earning a Molière Award for best comedian in Ionesco's The Chairs. She premiered the plays of Bertold Brecht in France, with Michel Serrault, Michel Piccoli and Laurent Terzieff.
On the big screen, she became famous at 71 for her work in the 1990 Étienne Chatiliez film Tatie Danielle, where she played the title role as a hateful and cantankerous old lady. She taught comedy from 1964 onwards and was the teacher of the actors of the Splendid troupe, including Gérard Jugnot, Michel Blanc, and Thierry Lhermitte.

## Death

Chelton died at 93 in Brussels, Belgium.
Her ashes were buried in the Père Lachaise Cemetery, Paris.

## Theatre

* 1952 : The underground lovers by Jean Tardieu, directed by Sylvain Dhomme, Théâtre Lancry
* 1952 : The Chairs by Eugène Ionesco, directed by Sylvain Dhomme, Théâtre Lancry
* 1953 : Victimes du devoir by Eugène Ionesco, directed by Jacques Mauclair, Théâtre du Quartier latin, Théâtre des Célestins
* 1953 : La Femme du condamné by Henri Monnier, Théâtre des Célestins
* 1954 : Man Equals Man by Bertolt Brecht, directed by Jean-Marie Serreau, Théâtre des Célestins, Théâtre de l'Œuvre
* 1955 : Jacques ou la soumission by Eugène Ionesco, directed by Robert Postec, Théâtre de la Huchette
* 1955 : Le Tableau by Eugène Ionesco, directed by Robert Postec, Théâtre de la Huchette
* 1956 : L'Impromptu de l'Alma by Eugène Ionesco, directed by Maurice Jacquemont, Studio des Champs-Élysées
* 1956 : Les Chaises by Eugène Ionesco, directed by Jacques Mauclair, Studio des Champs-Élysées, Théâtre des Célestins
* 1957 : A Marriage Proposal by Anton Tchekhov, directed by Maurice Jacquemont, Théâtre de l'Ambigu
* 1957 : The House of Bernarda Alba by Federico García Lorca, directed by Maurice Jacquemont, Théâtre de l'Ambigu
* 1957 : Pericles, Prince of Tyre by William Shakespeare, directed by René Dupuy, Théâtre de l'Ambigu
* 1958 : Les Carabiniers by Beniamino Joppolo, directed by Michel de Ré, Théâtre d'Aujourd'hui
* 1960 : Victimes du devoir by Eugène Ionesco, directed by Jacques Mauclair, Aix-en-Provence
* 1960 : Les Chaises by Eugène Ionesco, directed by Jacques Mauclair, Studio des Champs-Élysées
* 1961 : Les Chaises by Eugène Ionesco, directed by Jacques Mauclair, Studio des Champs-Élysées
* 1961 : Les Nourrices by Romain Weingarten, directed by the author, Théâtre de Lutèce
* 1962 : Chemises de nuit by Eugène Ionesco, François Billetdoux and Jean Vauthier, directed by Antoine Bourseiller, Théâtre des Champs-Elysées
* 1962 : Délire à deux by Eugène Ionesco, directed by Antoine Bourseiller, Studio des Champs-Élysées
* 1962 : La Brigitta by Jacques Audiberti, directed by François Maistre, Théâtre de l'Athénée
* 1962 : Lulu by Frank Wedekind, directed by François Maistre, Théâtre de l'Athénée
* 1962 : Exit the King by Eugène Ionesco, directed by Jacques Mauclair, Théâtre de l'Alliance française
* 1963 : Exit the King by Eugène Ionesco, directed by Jacques Mauclair, Festival du Jeune Théâtre Liège
* 1963 : Les Salutations and Scène à quatre by Eugène Ionesco, directed by Jacques Mauclair, Festival du Jeune Théâtre Liège
* 1963 : Célimare le bien-aimé by Eugène Labiche and Alfred Delacour, directed by Jacques Mauclair, Théâtre de l'Alliance française
* 1964 : Richard III by Shakespeare, directed by Jean Anouilh and Roland Piétri, Théâtre Montparnasse
* 1965 : The Chairs by Eugène Ionesco, directed by Jacques Mauclair, Théâtre Gramont
* 1966 : Spectacle Beckett-Ionesco-Pinget including Délire à deux by Eugène Ionesco, directed by Jean-Louis Barrault, Odéon-Théâtre de France
* 1966 : Exit the King by Eugène Ionesco, directed by Jacques Mauclair, Théâtre de l'Athénée
* 1967 : The Chairs by Eugène Ionesco, directed by Jacques Mauclair, Théâtre Gramont
* 1968 : Exit the King by Eugène Ionesco, directed by Jacques Mauclair, Festival de la Cité Carcassonne Théâtre du Midi
* 1969 : Exit the King by Eugène Ionesco, directed by Jacques Mauclair, Festival de Bellac, Festivals d'été
* 1969 : The Chairs by Eugène Ionesco, directed by Jacques Mauclair, tournée
* 1969 : Au théâtre ce soir : Many d'Alfred Adam, directed by Pierre Dux, producer Pierre Sabbagh, Théâtre Marigny
* 1970 : Exit the King by Eugène Ionesco, directed by Jacques Mauclair, Théâtre de l'Athénée
* 1970 : Les Adieux de la Grande Duchesse by Bernard Da Costa, directed by Jacques Mauclair, Poche Montparnasse
* 1971 : Les Chaises by Eugène Ionesco, directed by Jacques Mauclair, Théâtre de l'Alliance française
* 1971 : La Lacune by Eugène Ionesco, directed by Jacques Mauclair, Théâtre de l'Alliance française
* 1971 : La Jeune Fille à marier by Eugène Ionesco, directed by Jacques Mauclair, Théâtre de l'Alliance française
* 1972 : Le Saut du lit by Ray Cooney and John Chapman, directed by Jean Le Poulain, Théâtre Montparnasse
* 1973 : Exit the King by Eugène Ionesco, directed by Jacques Mauclair, Festival d'Angers
* 1975 : Les Adieux de la Grande Duchesse by Bernard Da Costa, directed by Jacques Mauclair, Théâtre Rive Gauche
* 1975 : L'Homme aux valises by Eugène Ionesco, directed by Jacques Mauclair, Théâtre de l'Atelier
* 1976 : La Reine de la nuit by Christian Giudicelli, directed by Gérard Caillaud, Théâtre de Plaisance
* 1976 : The Chairs by Eugène Ionesco, directed by Jacques Mauclair, Théâtre des Célestins, Théâtre de Boulogne-Billancourt
* 1977 : Le Sexe faible by Édouard Bourdet, directed by Jean Meyer, Théâtre des Célestins
* 1978 : Les Plaideurs by Racine, directed by Jean Meyer, Théâtre des Célestins
* 1978 : The Chairs by Eugène Ionesco, directed by Jacques Mauclair, Théâtre du Marais
* 1978 : Au théâtre ce soir : Vous ne l'emporterez pas avec vous de Moss Hart and George Kaufman, directed by Jean-Luc Moreau, producer Pierre Sabbagh, Théâtre Marigny
* 1978 : Au théâtre ce soir : Brocéliande de Henry de Montherlant, directed by Jean Meyer, producer Pierre Sabbagh, Théâtre Marigny
* 1981 : Au théâtre ce soir : Mort ou vif de Max Régnier, directed by Christian Duroc, producer Pierre Sabbagh, Théâtre Marigny
* 1987 : Crucifixion dans un boudoir turc by Jean Gruault, directed by Guy Michel, Théâtre de l'Odéon
* 1987 : Reine mère by Mainlo Santinelli, directed by José Quaglio, Théâtre de Poche Montparnasse
* 1988 : Le Saut du lit by Ray Cooney and John Chapman, directed by Jean Le Poulain, Théâtre des Variétés
* 1991 : En conduisant Miss Daisy by Alfred Uhry, directed by Gérard Vergez, Théâtre Antoine
* 1993 : The Chairs by Eugène Ionesco, directed by Jacques Mauclair, Théâtre du Marais
* 1996 : Le Mal de mère by Pierre-Olivier Scotto, directed by Françoise Seigner, Théâtre de la Madeleine
* 1997 : Le Mal de mère by Pierre-Olivier Scotto, directed by Françoise Seigner, Théâtre des Célestins
* 1998 : Le Mal de mère by Pierre-Olivier Scotto, directed by Françoise Seigner, Théâtre du Palais-Royal
* 2000 : Le ciel est égoïste by Pierre-Olivier Scotto and Martine Feldmann, directed by Pierre Aufrey, Théâtre du Palais-Royal, Théâtre Montansier
* 2001 : Une femme de lettres and Un bi-choco sous le sofa by Alan Bennett, directed by Jean-Claude Idée, Théâtre Tristan-Bernard

## Filmography

| Year | Title | Role | Director | Notes |
| 1962 | War of the Buttons | | Yves Robert | |
| 1963 | Sweet and Sour | | Jacques Baratier | |
| 1963 | Lektionen | Pianist | | TV movie |
| 1963 | Bébert et l'omnibus | Traveler | Yves Robert (2) | |
| 1965 | Les copains | Inn manageress | Yves Robert (3) | |
| 1965 | La grosse caisse | Newspaper seller | Alex Joffé | |
| 1965 | La communale | | Jean L'Hôte | |
| 1966 | Antony | | Jean Kerchbron | TV movie |
| 1968 | Very Happy Alexander | Madame Bouillot | Yves Robert (4) | |
| 1968 | Les compagnons de Baal | Cosmochronos's worshiper | Pierre Prévert | TV Mini-Series (4 episodes) |
| 1968 | Mazel Tov ou le mariage | | Claude Berri | |
| 1969 | Les Gauloises bleues | Director | Michel Cournot | |
| 1969 | Les enquêtes du commissaire Maigret | Madame Martin | René Lucot | TV series (1 episode) |
| 1970 | Le Distrait | Madame Cliston | Pierre Richard | |
| 1971 | The Wedding Ring | Madame Duvernet | Christian de Chalonge | |
| 1971 | Ten Days' Wonder | Théo's mother | Claude Chabrol | |
| 1971 | Shéhérazade | Magician | Pierre Badel | TV movie |
| 1972 | Le seize à Kerbriant | Blanche | Michel Wyn | TV series |
| 1973 | Le machin | Madame Ledieu | Armand Ridel | TV movie |
| 1973 | L'amour du métier | Mademoiselle Parent | Yves Laumet | TV series |
| 1974 | L'implantation | Aunt Eugénie | Guy Lefranc | TV movie |
| 1974 | Mort au jury | Madame Muss-Leduran | Jean Maley | TV series |
| 1974 | Shanks | Mrs. Barton | William Castle | |
| 1975 | C'est pas parce qu'on a rien à dire qu'il faut fermer sa gueule... | Madame Pipi | Jacques Besnard | |
| 1975 | Plus amer que la mort | Madame Dejean | Michel Wyn (2) | TV movie |
| 1975 | La adúltera | Simone | Roberto Bodegas | |
| 1977 | Commissaire Moulin | Moulin's great-aunt | Robert Guez | TV series (1 episode) |
| 1977 | At Night All Cats Are Crazy | Madame Banalesco | Gérard Zingg | |
| 1977 | Peppermint Soda | Matron | Diane Kurys | |
| 1977 | Deux auteurs en folie | | Joseph Drimal, Claude Fayard, François Gir & Jean-Paul Roux | TV Mini-Series |
| 1978 | La vierge folle | Duchess Charance | Jean Kerchbron (2) | TV movie |
| 1980 | Aéroport: Charter 2020 | Simone | Pierre Lary | TV movie |
| 1981 | Les gaietés de la correctionnelle | Widow Dulion | Joannick Desclers & Jeannette Hubert | TV series (1 episode) |
| 1981 | Les amours des années grises | Madame Ammard | Gérard Thomas | TV series (1 episode) |
| 1982 | L'épreuve | Madame Argante | Claude Santelli | TV movie |
| 1982 | Paris-Saint-Lazare | Woman from Guerin | Marco Pico | TV Mini-Series |
| 1984 | Le château | | Jean Kerchbron (3) | TV movie |
| 1985 | Hôtel du siècle | Honorine | Jean Kerchbron (4) | TV series |
| 1985 | Le diamant de Salisbury | Nanny | Christiane Spiero | TV movie |
| 1986 | L'ami Maupassant | Charlotte Cachelin | Alain Dhénaut | TV series (1 episode) |
| 1986 | Cinéma 16 | Madeleine | Jean-Claude Charnay | TV series (1 episode) |
| 1986 | Mademoiselle B | Mademoiselle Toutard | Bernard Queysanne | TV movie |
| 1987 | Les fortifs | Lady in blue | Marco Pico (2) | TV movie |
| 1987 | Qui c'est ce garçon? | Aunt Madeline | Nadine Trintignant | TV Mini-Series |
| 1988 | La sonate pathétique | Madame Tchourikova | Jean-Paul Carrère | TV series |
| 1989 | La grande cabriole | Delphine de Nocé | Nina Companeez | TV Mini-Series |
| 1989 | Le saut du lit | Marie-Odile Dumur des Rosiers | Pierre Cavassilas | TV movie |
| 1990 | Tatie Danielle | Tatie Danielle | Étienne Chatiliez | Nominated - César Award for Best Actress |
| 1990 | Marie Pervenche | Madame Dubois-Joubert | Serge Korber | TV series (1 episode) |
| 1992 | Les eaux dormantes | Aunt | Jacques Tréfouel | |
| 1993 | La Soif de l'or | Mémé Zézette | Gérard Oury | |
| 1997 | Et si on faisait un bébé? | Manou | Christiane Spiero (2) | TV movie |
| 2000 | Family Pack | Lea | Chris Vander Stappen | |
| 2001 | The Musketeer | Madame Lacross | Peter Hyams | |
| 2003 | Le pacte du silence | Mother Joseph | Graham Guit | |
| 2003 | Mauvais esprit | Baker's lady | Patrick Alessandrin | |
| 2003 | L'adorable femme des neiges | Félicie | Jean-Marc Vervoort | TV movie |
| 2004 | Le choix de Macha | Hortense | Marianne Lamour | TV movie |
| 2004 | Haute coiffure | Simone | Marc Rivière | TV movie |
| 2004 | Tout le plaisir est pour moi | Gaby | Isabelle Broué | |
| 2005 | Fabien Cosma | Madame Pignon | Bruno Gantillon | TV series (1 episode) |
| 2006 | En fanfare | Godelieve | Véronique Jadin | Short |
| 2007 | Zone libre | Madame Schwartz | Christophe Malavoy | |
| 2007 | Let's Dance | Tatiana | Noémie Lvovsky | |
| 2008 | Chez Maupassant | Mother Magloire | Claude Chabrol (2) | TV series (1 episode) |
| 2008 | Pandora's Box | Nusret | Yeşim Ustaoğlu | Cinemanila International Film Festival - Best Actress San Sebastián International Film Festival - Best Actress |
| 2009 | Soeur Sourire | Oldest Dominican | Stijn Coninx | |
| 2009 | Persécution | Old woman | Patrice Chéreau | |
| 2009 | Au siècle de Maupassant | Eugénie de Morville | Gérard Jourd'hui | TV series (1 episode) |
| 2007-10 | Melting Pot Café | Elisabeth | Jean-Marc Vervoort (2) | TV series (18 episodes) |
| 2012 | Les pieds dans le plat | Sonia | Simon Astier | TV movie |
| 2013 | Landes | Madame Laraillet | François-Xavier Vives | |

## Awards

* 1991: nominated to the César of best actress for Tatie Danielle.
* 1991: nominated to the Molière of comedy for En conduisant Miss Daisy.
* 1994: Molière of comedy for Les Chaises.
* 1997: nominated to the Molière of comedy for Le Mal de mère.
* 2000: knight of the Légion d'honneur
* 2008: best female interpretation at the San Sebastián International Film Festival for La Boîte de Pandore.
* 2009: best female interpretation at the Festival du film d’aventures de Valenciennes for La Boîte de Pandore and Sœur Sourire.
* 2009: Best Performance of the 27th Fajr International Film Festival ("World Panorama" section) for Pandora's Box, along with Derya Alabora and Ovul Avkiran