[Charlotte Réju]. French actress, born in Paris, the daughter of an actor. She was a pupil of Régnier at the Conservatoire, and took the second prize for comedy in 1874. Her début was made the next year, during which she played attractively a number of light—especially soubrette—parts. Her first great success was in Henri Meilhac’s Ma camarade (1883), and she soon became known as an emotional actress of rare gifts, notably in Décoré, Germinie Lacerteux, Ma cousine, Amoureuse and Lysistrata. In 1892 she married M. Porel, the director of the Vaudeville theatre, but the marriage was dissolved in 1905. Her performances in Madame Sans Gêne (1893) made her as well known in England and America as in Paris, and in later years she appeared in characteristic parts in both countries, being particularly successful in Zaza and La Passerelle. She opened the Théâtre Réjane in Paris in 1906. The essence of French vivacity and animated expression appeared to be concentrated in Madame Réjane’s acting, and made her unrivalled in the parts which she had made her own. During the World War she visited England and appeared at the Court theatre, London, in a patriotic play, Alsace, and at the Coliseum in The Bet, when she played the part of a Frenchwoman visiting the English battle-zone. She was made Chevalier of the Legion of Honour for her war services. She died in Paris on the 14th of June 1920.
