Nathalie Barthélémy Delon (born Francine Canovas) was one of the most striking and expressive actresses who emerged on the scene in the 1960s. Among British actresses of that era, Charlotte Rampling, Julie Christie, Jacqueline Bisset, and Vanessa Redgrave stood out. France was represented by icons such as Catherine Deneuve and her sister Françoise Dorléac, Anouk Aimée, Brigitte Bardot, and Capucine. All of them epitomized the ideal of feminine beauty during the Swinging Sixties.
Much has been said about comparing the beauty of Nathalie and Romy Schneider. However, that is like comparing apples and oranges. Romy was refined, aristocratic, and emotionally fragile, having grown up in privilege. Nathalie, on the other hand, was wild, adventurous, self-centered, and ambitious, coming from a working-class background.
If we compare Nathalie Delon to the “love goddess” of that time, Elizabeth Taylor, her beauty may seem less striking. However, in 1972, while filming a movie with Nathalie, Richard Burton fell under her spell and even considered leaving Taylor for her, but the passion quickly faded, and he remained with Elizabeth.
It was never just about looks. Men like Alain Delon, Richard Burton, and Franco Nero were drawn not only to her beauty but to her vibrant, energetic nature.
Although Nathalie kept the surname of her second husband (French actor Alain Delon) throughout her professional life, the greatest love of her life was not him, but producer Chris Blackwell.
Nathalie Delon’s Life and Career
Nathalie Delon (Francine Canovas, also known as Nathalie Barthélémy; August 1, 1941 – January 21, 2021) was a French actress, model, film director, and writer. In the 1960s, she was considered one of the most beautiful women of her time, and in the 1970s, she became a French sex symbol.
Her first film role was in “Le Samouraï” (1967), directed by Jean-Pierre Melville, where she starred alongside her then-husband, Alain Delon. The French newspaper Le Figaro wrote that in this film, husband and wife hardly speak, but their gazes say more than words, creating a mythical couple on screen.
Nathalie was also credited as a muse of the rock group Rolling Stones.
Early Life
Francine Canovas was born on August 1, 1941, in Oujda, Morocco, then under the French Protectorate. Her parents were French of Italian-Spanish descent: her mother, Antoinette Rodriguez (from Melilla), and her father, Louis Canovas (1915–2003), a pied-noir from Oran, Algeria, who managed a transport company. In 1942, when Francine was just eight months old, her father left the family.
In 1957, at the age of 16, Nathalie married Guy Barthélémy, an insurance officer for Omnium Marocain d’Assurance. They lived in Morocco and had a daughter, Nathalie Barthélémy. In 1960, the couple separated, and in 1961, Nathalie moved to Paris. Their divorce was finalized in July 1964, after which Nathalie took her daughter’s name and began her career in cinema and modeling.
Romance with Alain Delon
In August 1962, while at the New Jimmy’s nightclub in Paris, Nathalie met Alain Delon. That very night, passion ignited, and their affair lasted a year in secret, as Delon was officially engaged to Romy Schneider at the time.
Romy had given up a successful career in Germany to live with Delon in Paris. She believed in their love, but Delon was repeatedly unfaithful, including with Nathalie. When Schneider discovered the affair, she issued an ultimatum: “It’s her or me!”
Upon returning from a film shoot in the United States, Romy found a vase of black roses and a note from Delon, telling her he was leaving and choosing Nathalie.
Marriage to Alain Delon
In April 1964, Delon and Nathalie announced their engagement, and on August 13, 1964, they married in France—just one month after her divorce was finalized. They moved to Hollywood, where on September 30, 1964, their son, Anthony Delon, was born in Los Angeles.
The couple became one of the most glamorous and talked-about of the 1960s. However, their marriage was turbulent. In June 1968, they separated, and their divorce was finalized on February 14, 1969.
Despite their split, they continued to work together, appearing in two films: “Le Samouraï” (during their marriage) and “Doucement les Basses” (after their divorce).
Personal Life and Career After Divorce
In the 1960s and 1970s, Nathalie had affairs with Richard Burton, Franco Nero, Louis Malle, Marc Porel, Eddie Fisher, and others. But the most significant man in her life was Chris Blackwell—the British music producer and founder of Island Records, credited with introducing reggae music to the world. They were together for 15 years (1978–1993).
After her divorce from Delon, Nathalie appeared in 30 films, including:
- The Private Lesson (1968) – This film made her a star in Japan.
- When Eight Bells Toll (1971) with Anthony Hopkins.
- The Monk (1972) with Franco Nero.
In 1982, Nathalie directed her first film, Ils appellent ça un accident (“They Call It an Accident”), and in 1988, she directed Sweet Lies.
Later Years and Death
In 2006, Nathalie published her autobiography, Pleure pas, c’est pas grave (“Don’t Cry, It’s Okay”), where she candidly wrote about her marriage to Delon, her struggles with drug addiction, and the darker periods of her life.
Alain Delon, despite their tumultuous relationship, always remained by her side in difficult times. He helped her overcome her drug addiction.
On January 21, 2021, Nathalie Delon passed away in Paris at the age of 79 from pancreatic cancer.
Legacy
Although she never achieved the same level of fame as her former husband, she left her mark on cinema, fashion, and even music. A muse, actress, director, mother, and a free-spirited woman—Nathalie Delon was and remains a symbol of her era.