Sarah Bernhardt: podcast appearances and interviews

Sarah Bernhardt was a French stage actress born Henriette-Rosine Bernard on October 22, 1844. She rose to prominence in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, starring in numerous popular French plays including La Dame aux Camélias, Ruy Blas, Fédora, La Tosca, and L'Aiglon. Bernhardt was known for her versatility, playing both female and male roles; notably, she portrayed Shakespeare's Hamlet. She received high praise from contemporaries, with Rostand describing her as 'the queen of the pose and the princess of the gesture,' and Hugo commending her 'golden voice.' Her career included international theatrical tours, and she was among the early actresses to engage in sound recordings and film acting. Beyond her stage work, Bernhardt was also an accomplished visual artist, working as a painter and sculptor. At the height of her fame, she commissioned the first lithographic theater poster created by the then-unknown artist Alphonse Mucha for her play Gismonda. The success of the poster led to a contract for additional works, helping to establish Mucha's reputation in the Art Nouveau movement. Bernhardt passed away on March 26, 1923, leaving behind a legacy as one of the most influential figures in the history of theater and performance art.