Delphine Seyrig

Born in Beirut to a French father and a Swiss mother of Alsatian Jewish descent, Delphine Seyrig moved frequently in her early life, living in places like New York and Paris. Her mother's family, the Schwob de Héricourts, were a prominent Jewish banking family, providing a clear "O" score, even if her upbringing was largely secular.

Seyrig rose to prominence in the 1960s, becoming an iconic figure in French New Wave and art-house cinema. She starred in critically acclaimed films such as "Last Year at Marienbad" and "Jeanne Dielman, 23 quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles," often portraying mysterious, elegant, and complex women. Her work with directors like Alain Resnais and Chantal Akerman solidified her place as a cinematic intellectual.

Beyond acting, Seyrig was a vocal feminist and director, co-founding the feminist film collective Les Insoumuses. Her activism extended to challenging the male-dominated film industry and advocating for women's rights, demonstrating a kvell-worthy commitment to social change that transcended her on-screen persona. While her public Jewish identity remained understated, her artistic and political contributions certainly brought a certain nachas.